In a certain country there is a Vedarala. The Vedarala is a person
possessing the knowledge of medical practice, a very clever person
at telling prognostics (nimiti kimen). There is also a child of
the Vedarala's.
During the time while they are thus, the boy one day came running near
the Vedarala, and said, "Ane! Father, you have been learning so much;
you are now dying. Now then, where is your learning that you have
taught me?" and he began to cry.
After that, [the Vedarala] was not [sufficiently] conscious to tell
him anything. While he was about to die, just as he was saying,
"Ane! Son, you will have the decoction of eight Nelli [fruits]----"
the Vedarala died.
He having died, after a little time went by, a man's yoke of buffaloes
were lost. After that, the man (minissa) speaks, "Ane! What shall
I do? If the Vedarala were [here], he would look at the prognostics
[to ascertain] on which hand the yoke of buffaloes went, and he would
tell me. It is indeed to our loss that the Vedarala is lost." In that
manner he spoke a word.
Then one man who was present said, "Why are you saying thus? That
Vedarala's son is [there]. Go and look for him, and ask it of him."
After that, the man, having gone to the tree and plucked betel leaves,
came in the manner in which they came before near the big Vedarala
also, and having given betel leaves and money, asked that boy, "How,
Vedarala, have my yoke of buffaloes been lost? On account of it you
must look at the prognostics."
Then the boy said regarding it, "Taking eight Nelli fruits, beat them
and pour water [over them]; and having made a decoction, and made rock
salt into powder, and put it in, and poured castor-oil in, drink it,
and go and seek the yoke of buffaloes. Then they will be found,"
he said.
Afterwards the man came home, and taking eight Nelli fruits, and having
beaten them, and poured water [on them], made a decoction; and having
made rock salt into powder, and put it in, and poured castor-oil in,
drank it in the morning, and went to seek the lost cattle.
When going a little far the man began to [experience the purgative
effect of the medicine in a severe manner]. As he was going in the
chena jungle he met with a pool. The man, washing his hands and feet
at the pool, and sitting at noon near a tree at the pool because of
the severity of the treatment, remained looking about.
While he was looking about for a little time, the yoke of buffaloes,
having stayed in that chena jungle and being thirsty, came there
and drank water from that pool. While they were drinking, the man
went to them, and catching the yoke of buffaloes, took them to the
village. Having gone [there] he ate rice, and the [action of the
medicine] ceased. On the following day, the man, tying up a pingo
(carrying-stick) load and going with it, gave many presents to the
Vedarala's boy.
When a little time had passed, war having been made on the King of
that country, and as still [another] King was coming to seize the
country, because there were not people [left] to fight the King was
in much fear.
While he was thus, that man whose cattle having been lost were found,
went and said, "O Lord, Your Majesty, the Vedarala's son, a small
Vedarala indeed, somehow or other having made a stratagem on account
of that, will do something so that they will not fight."
After that, the King having sent men, asked for a device for it. On
account of it, he said that everybody who was in the city should
drink the decoction of eight Nellis.
Thereupon, all in the city having made the decoction, and put in the
rock salt and castor-oil, drank it that very night. Having drunk it,
the whole of the people having entered the city, while they were
sleeping all became [obliged] to go out. The men who stayed in the
city would be about a hundred.
At the city there is a small window at the back, called "the dark
window" (aendiri kawla). From that window each one began to go out
ten or twelve times to the open ground.
The King who was coming to the city for the war, had sent spies to
the city to look if [many] people are there. While the spies stayed
looking at this, it was like a wonder. If there was not one, there
was another went out until the time when it became light.
Having said, "Leaving [out of consideration] the multitude who went
out, how many people are there not in the city still! This war does
not matter to us; because of it let us go away," all the men whom
the King sent went away. After that, having said, "There are too many
people at this city," through fear he did not come for the war.
After that, the King of this city having given to the Vedarala's son
many villages, fields, silver and gold, established him in the post
of Minister. Thereafter, having been a soothsayer who bore a name
just like that one's father, he was a very wealthy person.
North-central Province.
The "rock salt" (sahida-lunu) would be salt in crystals, this being
the state in which the salt is collected in Ceylon after the water
has evaporated.