The son-in-law said, “I don’t know, father-in-law. As you said those were cobras I placed it on the ant-hill for them to creep out.”
Afterwards taking the rice bag, also, that was in the hand of the father-in-law, he again went a long way in front, opened the rice bag, and ate the cooked rice, and having thrown away the bag, stopped there, sitting down.
The Gamarāla having come up, said, “Let us eat the bundle of cooked rice. Where, son-in-law, is the rice bag?”
Then the son-in-law said, “I don’t know, father-in-law. As you said that was for the road, I put it on the road and came away.”
They were near a [road-side] shop. At that time, having given the son-in-law a panama,[7] the Gamarāla said, “Go to that shop and bring plantains.”
Then having gone to the shop, taking sixteen plantains for the panama he thought thus:—“Should I take these sixteen plantains near father-in-law, I shall receive eight plantains [as my share]. Because of that, I must eat the eight plantains here and go.” Thereupon he ate eight plantains.
Having eaten them, he thinks again, “Should I take these eight plantains father-in-law will not eat them without having given me four plantains. Because of it, I must eat the four plantains in this very place.” So he ate the four plantains.
Having eaten them, still he thinks, “Should I go taking these four, father-in-law will never eat without giving me two. Because of it, after eating the two in this very place I must go.” So from the four he ate two.
Having eaten these, still he thinks, “Should I take these two near father-in-law[8], he will never eat without giving me one. Because of it, I must go after eating one in this very place.” So from the two he ate one.
Having eaten it, still he thinks, “Should I take this near father-in-law[8] he will never eat without giving me a piece. Because of it, I must go after eating the piece here.” So breaking the plantain in two he ate a piece.