The matter of their not [marrying] indeed [was this:--the father of the girls] said, "Cousin, my daughter is a daughter possessing much beauty. Because of it, your young child indeed is not good. Should you say, 'What of the matter of his not being good, indeed!' Your child is the Turtle; because it is so I cannot [marry my daughter to him]," he said.

Then the other cousin says, "Cousin, you cannot say so. The Turtle who is my young child says, 'I, father, if there be not that marriage for me, I will jump into the well, and make various quarrels,' the Turtle says. Because it is so you must marry your very child [to him], he says. If you cannot [do] so, let us cancel the marriages of the whole of the several persons," says the Turtle’s father.

Then he says, "If so, cousin, no matter about cancelling the marriages; I will give my daughter to the Turtle," he said. Having thus given her, they contracted the marriage.

Having married them, when they were [there] there was notified by the King of the same city, "Can anyone, having brought it, give me the Fire Cock [102] that is at the house of the Rakshasa?" [103] he notified. The same King published by beat of tom-toms that to the persons who brought and gave it he will give many offices. Secondly, "I will give my kingdom also," he notified.

That word the Turtle having ascertained, he said, "Mother, you go, and seeing the King, 'The Turtle who is my son is able,' say, 'to bring and give the Fire Cock.'" [She went accordingly.]

Then the King said, "Tell your son to come to-morrow morning," he said.

The following day morning the same Turtle having gone says, "I can bring and give the Fire Cock in seven days."

Then the King said, "Not to mention [104] the Turtle, should anyone [whatever] bring and give it, I will give him offices and my kingdom also."

The Turtle having come home said to the Turtle’s wife, "Bolan, having cooked for me a packet [105] of rice, bring it," he said.

Then the Turtle’s wife asked, "What is the packet of cooked rice for you for?" she asked.

"It is arranged by the King for me to bring and give him the Fire Cock that is at the Rakshasa’s house. Because it is so, cook the lump of rice," he said.

"Having cooked the lump of rice I can give it, indeed. How will you take it and go?" she said.

Then the Turtle said, "Having put the cooked rice in a bag, place it on my back and tie it. I am able to take it and go," he said.

After having placed it on his back and tied it, the same Turtle, having gone on the journey, while on the road went to a screen formed by Mahamidi [trees]. [106] Having gone there and unfastened the packet of cooked rice, and removed and put aside the turtle jacket, he ate the lump of cooked rice. Having eaten and finished, he hid the turtle jacket, and went on the journey [in the form of a Prince].

When he was going on the journey, it having become night while he was on the road he went to the house of a widow-mother. Having gone [there], "Mother, you must give me a resting-place," he said.

Then the widow-mother said, "A resting-place indeed I can give," she said; "to give to eat [there is] not a thing."

"If so, no matter for the food; should you give me only the resting-place it will do," he said.

Then the widow-mother asked, "Where are you, son, going?" she asked.

Then he said, "I am going for the Jewelled Cock at the Rakshasa’s house," he said.

The widow-mother then said, "Son, go you to [your] village without speaking [about it]. People, many multitudes in number, having stayed in the resting-place here, went for the Fire Cock. Except that they went, they did not bring the Fire Cock. Because it is so don’t you go."

Then he said, "However much you, mother, should say it, I indeed must really go."

"Since you are going, not paying heed to my saying, eat this little rice dust that I cooked, and go."

Then he said, "Except that to-day you cooked rice dust [for me], I shall not be able to cook [even] rice dust again for you," he said. ["Raw-rice, be created."] With the same speed [as his saying it] raw-rice [107] was created, [and he gave her power to do the same].

"Son, like the power which you gave, I will give you a power. You having gone to the Rakshasa’s house, at the time when you are coming back the Rakshasa will come [for the purpose of] stopping you. Then on account of it having taken this piece of stone and said, 'Ci! Mountain, be created,' cast it down; the mountain will be created. The Rakshasa having gone up the mountain, while he is descending below you will be able then to go a considerable distance."

Taking that [stone and] power from there when he was going away, while he was on the road it became night. After it became night, again he went to the house of a widow woman. The widow woman asked, "Where, son, are you going in this way when it has become night?"