In a certain country there were a Gamarala and Gama-mahage (his
wife). There were seven daughters of the Gamarala's; there was no male
child. Taking another male child, they reared him for themselves. This
child was very thoroughly doing the work at the Gamarala's house.
Thereafter, after he became big, they asked at the hand of the
Gamarala's daughters, "Who is willing to marry this child?"
All [the elder ones] said, "We don't want that scabby filthy one,"
but there was willingness [on the part] of the last young one. The
two persons having married, the other six began to treat this young
one harshly, but she did not take to heart (lit., mind) the things
they are saying.
While they are thus, the Gamarala's son-in-law went to a smithy to
get a digging hoe made. He said to the smith, "Ane! Make and give me
a digging hoe." Although the smith took no notice of it, yet for many
days he went again and again. He did not make and give the digging hoe.
One day, at the time when the smith was eating cooked rice, having
put into the heat a piece of iron refuse which this person had thrown
away, he began to blow the skins (bellows).
Then the figure of a great lion having come to the smith, he came
running, leaving the cooked rice and food, and when he looked, having
seen that very valuable iron is becoming hot, in an instant he made the
digging hoe and gave it. Thereafter, the smith said to the Gamarala,
"This child is a very virtuous royal Prince. To this one, without
delay a kingdom is about to descend."
This boy again one day went to another man to ask for (borrow)
a yoke of oxen. When he went there the man said, "I cannot to-day;
come to-morrow." [32] The man brought him there many days. He did
not give the yoke of oxen: "There are no oxen with me to give,"
[he said]. Well then, this one in sorrow came to his house.
Although two [semi]-wild male buffaloes of the Gamarala's are staying
on two hills, no one is able to catch them. Thereafter, this one,
taking a yoke and having gone to the rice field, performed an Act
of Truth. [33] Having set up the yoke in the grass, he said, "The
sovereignty will fall to me indeed. The wild one on that hill and
the wild one on this hill, to-morrow morning must have presented
[themselves] neck by neck to this yoke."
Thereafter, on the following day morning, he said to this one's wife,
"Taking a little food, come to the rice field; I am going to plough."
Then the woman said, "Where have you cattle to plough?" Having said
it, she laughed.
This one said, "There will be a yoke of cattle for me in the rice
field."
Having gone to the field, when he looked, both the wild buffaloes
had come, presenting their necks to the yoke. Well then, this one
having tied the yoke began to plough. His wife having come to the
rice field taking the food, when she looked, saw that this one is
ploughing. Afterwards, having gone near the yoke, she said, "There
will be much weariness; be good enough to eat a little food."
Thereafter, having stopped the yoke of cattle, and gone to a shade
[after] washing off the mud, and having eaten the food, through
weariness he placed his head on the waist pocket of his wife a little
time, and went to sleep.
While he was sleeping there a little time a dream appeared: on the
yoke a hive of Bambara bees has been fastened. Then having awoke,
he said to the woman, "Ane! Bolan, in a dream a hive of Bambaras was
fastened on the yoke; look."
Then the woman laughed and said, "If so, a kingdom will fall to
you now."
When he had been [sleeping] there again a little time, [he said],
"Ane! Bolan, maggots [34] fell on the great toe of my foot; look."
At that, also, this woman laughed, and said, "If so, you will receive
the sovereignty now."
When he was there [asleep] a little time again, the clods (hi kaeta)
which this one ploughed up appear to be of silver colour. Again he
said to the woman, "The plough clods are silver colour; look."
At that, also, this woman laughed, and said, "If so, you will receive
the sovereignty immediately."
Again, when he had been sleeping, he said, "Ane! Bolan, I hear a
great noise; look."
At that, also, this woman having laughed, says, "Fetching you to go,
they are coming to appoint you to the sovereignty."
Again, when he had been sleeping, he said, "Ane! Bolan, I hear the
noise very near this; look."
This woman says, "Ane! There is nothing to be seen. On account of the
three worlds [35] that you ploughed your head is made crazy. Be good
enough to sleep a little time without speaking."
When a little time had gone again, she awoke him: "The sound of the
five kinds of tom-toms, [36] and the decorated tusk elephant are
coming. Be pleased to arise quickly."
Just as this one was awaking, the tusk elephant having come,
kneeled down.
Thereafter, having caused this one to bathe in scented sandal-wood
water, having put on him the royal ornaments, and having put in that
very manner the ornaments on his wife also, they placed both of them
on the back of the tusk elephant.
As they were going, he caused the smith to be brought, and impaled
him. Having caused the person who did not give the yoke of buffaloes
to be brought, he heated cow-dung, and having held both his lips to
both sides, he poured it down his throat.
As he was going near the house of the Gamarala, the King said, for
the Gamarala's daughters to hear:--
Kalundawa pinma kale. Kalundawa performed very
meritorious acts.
Kalu undae pin no-kale. The agreeable ones performed not
meritorious acts.
North-western Province.