No. 142
The Story of the Seven Yakās
In a certain country there are a woman and a man, it is said. One day the man went to plough. The woman placed a ripe pine-apple underneath the bed.
On the very day she put it [there], seven Yakās having joined together and taken a hidden treasure, while six Yakās were dividing the articles one Yakā having come to the house of that man who went to plough, the Yakā remained sitting down under the bed at which is the pine-apple, in order to “possess” the woman.
Then that man having ploughed came home. Having come there, sitting down on the bed he said to the woman, “Haven’t you cooked yet? I have hunger [enough] to eat the Yakā.”
Then the woman said, “I am still cooking. If you cannot wait until the time [when I finish] there is [something] under the bed.”
The woman said it regarding the pine-apple. What of that! Because she did not explain and say [so] the Yakā thought, “It is regarding me, indeed, she said that;” and the Yakā having become afraid, very quickly having arisen said to the man, “Anē! Don’t eat me. Come along (lit., come, to go), for me to show you a place where there is a good hidden treasure.”
After that, the man having got up from the bed and called the man’s younger brother, the two persons went with the Yakā. Having gone, they went to the place where those six Yakās are dividing the articles.
Then the Yakā said to the two men, “Until the time when I bring and give you the articles, there (onna), go to that tree.” After that, the two men went into the tree to which the Yakā told them to go.