Afterwards, after many days went by, yet [another] man having come, went back, calling her [in marriage]. [When living] near (i.e., with) that man also she began to eat by stealth. Afterwards that man also having said, "I don’t want this woman who eats by stealth," and having gone [with her] to her village, put her back [there].

Thus, in that way she went in ten or twelve diga [marriages], it is said. Because she eats by stealth, they bring her back and place her [at home again].

Afterwards, still a man came and asked [for her in marriage]. The woman’s father said, "Child, I gave her in ten or twelve diga [marriages]. Because she eats by stealth, having brought and brought her, they put her [back here]. Because of it, should I give her to you it will not be successful," he said.

Then the man said, "Father-in-law, no matter that she ate by stealth. If you will give her give her to me," he said. Afterwards the woman’s father said, "If you are willing in that way, even now call her and go," he said. Thereupon the man, calling her, went away. [89]

Having investigated for a great many days, when he looked [he saw that] she eats by stealth. Afterwards the man said to the woman, "Bolan, it has become necessary for me to eat a [special] food. How about it?" he said.

"What is it?" the woman asked.

"It is in my mind to eat milk-cake," [90] he said.

Then the woman said, "Is that a very wonderful work? Let us cook it on any day you want it," she said.

Afterwards the man said, "If so, when you cook it I cannot look and look on, eyeing it, and [then] eat it. To-day I am going on a journey; you cook."

Having said [this], the man dressed himself well, and having left the house behind, and gone a considerable distance [returned and got hid]. When he was hidden, the woman, taking the large water-pot, went for water. Having seen it, the man went running, and having got on the platform in the room (at the level of the top of the side walls), remained looking out.

The woman, taking rice and having put it to soak and pounded it into flour, began to cook. After having [cooked some cakes and eaten part of them, she] cooked a fresh package of cakes, and finished; and having put the fresh package of cakes into syrup, and laid the packet of cakes over the others which remained, and covered them, she took the water-pot and went to the well, and having taken water after bathing, set off to come back.

The man quickly descended from the platform, and having gone to the path, got hid. The woman came to the house, taking the water, and having placed the water-pot [there], when she was taking betel the man came out from the place where he was hidden, and came to the house.

Afterwards, the woman having apportioned the milk-cake on the plate, and said, "Inda! Eat," gave him it. Thereupon the man, looking in the direction of the plate, says, "What are ye saying? Get out of the way. Should she eat it secretly in that way, it is for her stomach, and should she eat it openly it is for her stomach," he said. In that way he says it two or three times. The woman heard.

Afterwards the woman asked, "Without eating the milk-cake, what do you say that for?" she asked.

Thereupon the man says, "These flies are saying to me that after you were cooking, you cooked a fresh package of cakes, and having finished, and put the package of cakes into syrup, you ate the package. Afterwards I said, 'Should she eat it secretly (hemin) it is for her (undaege) stomach; should she eat it openly it is for her stomach,'" he said.

Beginning from that day, the woman, having said, "Do you tell tales in that way?" began to kill the flies. She also stopped eating by stealth.

Tom-tom Beater. North-western Province.

NO. 201

THE STORY OF THE BITCH

In a certain country there are a woman and a man, it is said. The woman has a pregnancy longing to eat Katuwala [yams]. There is a Bitch, also; she also has a pregnancy longing; that also is to eat Katuwala [yams].

After that, the man and the woman and the Bitch, the three, went to uproot Katuwala [yams]. Having gone there, and the man having said, "This is for her of ours" (his wife), [91] when he uprooted it on it there was no yam. Having said, "This is for the Bitch," when he uprooted it on it there were yams such that the hands could not lift them. Uprooting them, and having come home and boiled them, when they were eating the Bitch stayed at the doorway. Without giving [any] to the Bitch the man and woman ate them.

Afterwards the Bitch thought, "For their not giving the Katuwala [yams] to me may the children born in my body be born in the woman’s body, and the children born in the woman’s body be born in my body."

The Bitch went to the forest jungle (himale); having gone, and entered a rock cave, she bore two Princesses. Having borne them the Bitch went to eat food. [The Princesses grew up there.]

Then a Vaedda having come shooting, when he looked there are two Princesses. Having seen them, the Vaedda, breaking and breaking branches [to mark the way to the cave], came to the city. Having come there he told at the hand of the King, "In the chena jungle, at such and such a place, in a rock cave there are two Princesses. It is to say this I have come here."

Afterwards the King sent the King’s two Princes to go with the Vaedda to summon the Princesses and come. While going there the Vaedda said on the road, to the Princes, "When I have gone and am begging for a little fire at the hand of the two Princesses, they will open the door in order to give the fire. Then you two must spring into the house."