The Ash-Pumpkin Fruit Prince
At a certain time at a certain village there were a husband and a wife. During the time when they were [there] the two together went to a chena. Having gone, [after] plucking an Ash-pumpkin they brought it and placed it in a large pot under seven earthen cooking pots.
When not much time had gone, the seven earthen cooking pots were shaken. Then this party having opened the mouths of the cooking pots, when they looked a Python had filled up the large pot.
After that, the party plaited seven beds.[1] Having plaited them, they caused the Python to sleep on the seven beds.
Next, having gone to a place where seven daughters were, they asked for an assistant (a wife) for that Python. Having asked, they brought the eldest sister. Having brought her, when they opened the house door the woman having seen this Python and being afraid, said, “Anē! The way in which fathers have sought and given me in marriage!” and just as it became light the girl went home.
In that manner they brought the six women. All six being afraid of this Python went away.
They brought the youngest girl of the seven. [She] having come there, when two or three months had gone they opened the house door. After that, the girl having seen the Python and being afraid, said in distress, “Anē! The danger that my parents have made for me, having given me in dīga [marriage] to a Python! There is no place for me to lie down.”
Thereupon the Python having made room on one out of the seven beds, remained on six.
On the following day she spoke in the same manner. Then the Python, having made room on two out of the seven beds, remained on five. On the following day in the evening she spoke in the same manner; then the Python, having made room on three out of the seven beds, was on four. On the following day in the evening she spoke in the same manner; then the Python, having made room on four out of the seven beds, was on three. On the following day evening she said the same; then the Python, having made room on five out of the seven beds, was on two. On the following day evening she said the same; then the Python, having made room on six out of the seven beds, was on one.
On the seventh day morning the Python came to the veranda. At that time, the mother-in-law of the woman who had come in dīga [marriage] to the Python, said to the woman, “Daughter, lower a little paddy from the corn store,[2] and having winnowed, boil it.”