In a certain country there are a woman and a man, it is said. The woman
having falsely said that she had the Kadawara disease, [155] taking
on false illness lay down. The man every day goes to the watch-hut
[in the chena].
One day when he was going to the watch-hut, he asked for thread at
the hand of the woman, in order to bring it on the morrow morning,
[after] charming it for the Kadawara. After that, the woman gave him
thread, having become pleased at it.
The man knows about the woman's trickery. Knowing it, that day evening
having gone to the watch-hut the man charmed the thread. How did he
charm it? The woman's father's name was Palinguwa.
At the very time when the man was going to sleep, holding the thread,
the very manner in which he charmed it [was this]: having made
[nine] knots [on it], he charmed it [by] saying and saying [only],
"Palinguwa's woman, Palinguwa's woman."
On the following day morning he came back, and tied it on the woman's
arm. At the very instant, the woman, quickly having arisen, does her
work. While she was thus, the woman says, "Having hastened quickly,
you must distribute [betel]." [156]
Afterwards, the man also having said, "It is good," he gave betel
to Kadawara Vedas [157] who dance well, and said, "Come on such
and such a day." He collected for it the articles to be expended,
and caused arrack (spirit distilled from palm-juice) to be brought,
and prepared all.
On the Kadawara day the men came, and having eaten and drunk, and
dressed themselves [in their dancing costume and ornaments], as
they were descending [from the raised veranda] into the open space
in front of the house, this woman quickly took out the mat also,
and stretching out her two feet at the doorway, sat down on it,
(ready for the ceremony, which would be performed in front of her).
Then this man having come speedily, bringing the rice pestle,
beat that woman with the pestle and put her in the house. Having
shut the door and locked it, and come outside, as he was coming out
the Kadawara Vedas, becoming afraid, prepared to run away, saying,
"Perhaps this man is a mad-man."
Then this man said, "Don't you run away. Dance well. There is arrack;
drink as much as you want."
Afterwards, they having drunk and drunk and danced until it became
light, in the morning the man cooked abundantly, and gave the Kadawara
Vedas to eat, and having given them presents sent them away.
North-western Province.