North-central Province.
In a variant of No. 59 in vol. i., the Gamarāla inquired regarding the naekata at his daughter’s reaching marriageable age. The man replied, “Through this little lass (paencī) seven men will die. Anē! O Gamarāhami, because of this little lass don’t make this country desolate,” and advised killing her. When this man was carrying her away tied in a sack, intending in reality to marry her to his son, some people who had a savage bear in a similar sack found the bundle left on the roadside temporarily, and made an exchange. The son was killed by the bear while the father danced outside, beating a tom-tom (uḍaekkiya).
[1] May life be long! This is the usual response made at incantations during ceremonies for removing sickness caused by demons or planets. The words are addressed to the power invoked, and must be uttered very loudly. [↑]
No. 145
The Gem Yaksanī
There were a King and a Queen of a single city. The two one day went for sport in the gardens. Then, sitting on a branch there was a little bird.
At that time the Queen asked the King, “Is that little bird which is there the male or the female?” The King said, “The male.”