After that, that youngster let go the rice mortar; then the Yaksanī fell to the ground. Then that youngster let go the millet stone; then the Yaksanī died. Only the youngster remained.
North-western Province.
In the Kolhān tales (Bompas) appended to Folklore of the Santal Parganas (Rev. Dr. Bodding), p. 464, occurs an Indian version of this peculiar story. A boy whose mother gave him two pieces of bread daily, one day left one on a rock and found next morning that a tree which bore bread as fruit had grown from it. When he was in the tree eating the fruit one day, a woman who was really a Rākshasī came up and asked for a loaf, and saying that if it fell on the ground it would become dirty, induced him to descend with it. She then put him in her bag and went off. While she was getting a drink at a pool some travellers let the boy out. He filled the bag with stones. On reaching her home the woman told her daughter she had brought a fine dinner, but the daughter found only stones in the bag. Next day the woman returned to the tree, secured the boy in the same way, brought him to her daughter, and went to collect firewood. In reply to the boy, the girl said he was to be killed by being pounded in a mortar; while she showed him how it was to be done he killed her with the pestle, put on her clothes, and cut her up. The ogress returned, cooked and ate her, and went to sleep, on which the boy struck her on the head with a large stone, killed her, and took all her property.
The Lad and the Rākshasī. (Variant a.)
In a certain country there are a female Crow and a male Crow. While they were thus, the female Crow having thought of eating cakes, went with the male Crow to break firewood. Having gone, [after] breaking firewood the male Crow took a bundle of firewood [and came away with it].
When the female Crow was there unable to lift up her bundle of firewood, she saw that a lad who looks after cattle was going by, and having called to him, when she said, “Son, lift up the bundle of firewood and go; I will give you cakes,” the lad lifted it up and gave her it, and went away.
After that, the lad having come to eat cakes, when he asked for cakes the female Crow gave him cakes.
The lad, having gone away taking the cakes, and ascended a tree, when he was eating them a Rākshasī came. When she looked up the tree, having seen a lad eating cakes, she said, “Anē! Son, throw down cakes for me also.” So the lad threw down a cake. Having said, “It is in the dung-heap,” she told him to throw down one more. Thereupon the lad threw down one more. “That also is in the dung-heap,” she said. After all were finished in that way, the Rākshasī says to the lad, “Now then, son, tying both legs and both hands jump into this bag,” she said. Then the lad jumped.