In The Indian Antiquary, vol. iii, p. 11, in a Bengal story, by Mr. G. H. Damant, some men who had been cheated by a farmer, called at his house regarding the matter. He offered them food, and when they sat down to the meal struck his wife with his bullock goad, and said, “Be changed into a girl, and bring in the curry.” She went out, and sent back their little daughter with the food. He then sold the men the magic stick for one hundred and fifty rupees, telling them that if they beat their wives well with it they would all recover their youth. They acted accordingly, and beat them so thoroughly that the wives were all killed. Then they returned and burnt the farmer’s house down, as noted at the end of the last story, where the later incidents are given.
In The Indian Antiquary, vol. xviii, p. 120, there is a South Indian story by Paṇḍita Naṭēśa Sāstrī, in which, when three persons who had been cheated by a man came to interview him regarding the frauds, they were welcomed by him. According to arrangement, he beat his wife, who was dressed as an old woman, with a pestle and put her inside the house, explaining to his guests that he had only done it to make her young again. Soon afterwards she reappeared as a young woman. He lent them the magic pestle for a week, but by its use they only killed their relatives. Then they returned in order to square up accounts with him, tied him in a bag, and carried him up a mountain, intending to burn him alive. When they went for the firewood, a cow-herd came up, learnt from him that he was about to be forcibly married to a girl, took his place, and was burnt, the impostor himself driving off the 1,001 cows which the man was watching. When the three cheated persons returned and learnt that he had been sent back from Kailāsa with the cattle, as his time on earth had not expired, two of them got him to burn them in a similar way.
No. 11
The White Turtle
At a village there are an elder sister and a younger sister, two persons. The two are going away, it is said.
While going, they saw two bulls going along. Then the cattle asked, “Where are you going?”
“We are going to a country where they give to eat and to wear” (meaning that they were in search of husbands).
“Are we good enough for you?”[1] the cattle asked.
“What do you eat?” they asked.