"No, you are telling lies."

The Yaka said, "In my breast."

"That also is false," she says. "Tell me the truth."

The Yaka said, "In my neck."

"It is not there, also," she says.

At last the Yaka said, "My life is in [the brightness of] my sword."

Afterwards, placing the sword near his head, he went to sleep. Then this woman having gone, collected a bon-fire (gini godak), and quietly taking the sword put it into the hearth. Well then, the woman having come back, when she looked that Yaka was dead.

That eldest Yaka having arisen, when he looked [saw that] the flowers and fruit had all fallen from the lime tree. The Yaka said, "Ane! Bola, there will have been some accident; I must go to look." Well then, the eldest Yaka having tied up the lime fruits, and come to that Yaka’s country, taking them, when he looked his younger brother was dead. When he sought for that sword it was not [there].

Afterwards, when he looked at the fire heap that sword was in the heap. Well then, taking the limes and having cut them, when he was thoroughly polishing it with the limes that dead Yaka revived (lit., was born). Then the elder Yaka, calling the revived Yaka, came to his [own] house [with him].

A pestilence having stricken the second Yaka, one morning when those two looked the flowers on that planted tree had fallen. Well then, having said, "Appa! Bolan, some accident will have stricken our Yaka," putting together those flowers also, they went away.

Having gone, and having offered the flowers to the Gods of that country, the disease was cured; and calling that Yaka also, they came to that eldest Yaka’s house.

Having come [there], that eldest Yaka said to one Yaka, "You do loading work, and having loaded cattle get your living." To the other Yaka he said, "You trade and get your living. I will cultivate," he said.

Well then, the three taking human appearance, all remained at the city where that eldest Yaka was. That Yaka who loaded sacks [with produce with which he went on trading journeys] was ruined by that very thing, and died.

Then [in the case of] the Yaka who traded [at a shop], an old thief stole all the goods [obtained] by his trading. Out of grief on that account that Yaka died.

That eldest Yaka, doing cultivation and having become abundantly wealthy, stayed at that very city, and abandoned the Yaka appearance.

Potter. North-western Province.

NO. 188

THE TIME OF SCHOLARS

In a certain country there is, it is said, a [man called] Dikpitiya. A [married woman called] Diktaladi is rearing an [adopted] child. While it was [there] no long time, a [female] child was born; to Diktaladi a child was born. On the boy, the [adopted] boy she reared, she put a cloth for ploughing (that is, he grew old enough to plough). After the [female] child grew great and big, [the parents] gave her [in marriage] to that youth whom Diktaladi reared, [and they went to live in another village].

The boy she reared, after no long time went by, seeking oil, honey, flour, and cooking a bag of cakes, and giving them to that woman [his wife, set off with her] in order to go to look at that mother-in-law and father-in-law.

At the time when the two are going together, having seen that much water is going in the river [which it was necessary to cross], both of them became much afraid in mind. Thereupon, when they are staying [there], these two persons, having seen that the one called Dikpitiya was on the opposite bank fishing and fishing, said, "Ane! It is a great hindrance that has occurred to us. Ane! In our hand there is not a thing for us to eat, not a place to sit down at. Should you take us two [across] to that side, it will be charity"; and those two persons make obeisance to Dikpitiya.

Afterwards Dikpitiya, having left his bait creeper [30] (fishing-line), came swimming to this side. Having come, "Where are ye two going?" he asked.

"Ane! We are going to look at our mother-in-law and father-in-law."

Dikpitiya placed the bag of cakes on one shoulder, and placed the woman on the [other] shoulder. Afterwards he crossed, swimming, to that [far] side.

After having crossed to that side [he said to the woman], "What a man that man is! The scare-crow tied in the paddy field! We two are of one sort; let us two go [off together]."