In a certain country there is an islet; on the islet there are a few
houses. On the islet a Rakshasa dwells. This Rakshasa having seized
them eats [the men] from each house at the rate of one man every day.
When the Rakshasa is coming seizing and eating the men in that way for
a great number of years, the men of the islet having become finished,
at one house, only, men have remained over. In that family there are
two parents and four children. The names of the four are One-cubit,
Two-cubits, Three-cubits, Four-cubits.
While these children are there, the Rakshasa seized even both the
parents of these children. Out of the children, the child called
Four-cubits is a female child. The female child for grief at the loss
of her mother is weeping and weeping. While these three elder brothers
are unable to pacify her, one day at night, One-cubit having spoken
says, "Two-cubits, Three-cubits, being now without our mother and
father, there is not a thing for us to eat. Our younger sister having
remembered mother at all times, is weeping and weeping. Because of
it, I and Two-cubits having gone to a country, will come back [after]
seeking something for you to eat. Three-cubits, you stay [at home],
looking after and soothing younger sister."
One-cubit and Two-cubits having crossed over from the island,
and having gone on and on, arrived at a country. Having arrived,
while they are going thus, they met with a youth who is looking
after cattle. Having met with him, he asked these two, "Where are
you two going?"
"We two are going seeking any sort of livelihood," they said.
"Can you two stay to look after cattle?" he asked. "We can," they said.
Having said, "Come. Our Gamarala has many cattle. For looking after
them he still wants people," this youth who looks after cattle,
calling these two, went to the Gamarala's house.
When they went, the Gamarala asked this youth who looks after
the cattle, "Who are these two youths?" "These two came seeking a
livelihood," he said.
Then the Gamarala asks these youths, "What can ye do for a living?" "We
can graze cattle," they said.
Then the Gamarala asked the big youth, "What name?" "One-cubit," he
said. He asked the younger youth, "What is thy name?" "Two-cubits,"
he said.
Thereupon the Gamarala, having given charge of one hundred cattle
to One-cubit, and one hundred cattle to Two-cubits, said, "Having
thoroughly caused the cattle given to you to eat and drink, and having
looked after them, not giving the cattle to jungle quadrupeds, ye
must bring them in the evening, and completely put them in the folds,"
the Gamarala said.
After many days, the Gamarala thought, "I must go to look at the cattle
[that are] with One-cubit and Two-cubits." One day in the evening,
at the time when they were putting them in the folds, he went and
remained looking on. The cattle are thoroughly healthy. When the
Gamarala looked [at the numbers] those of both persons are correct.
The Gamarala, having become much pleased, having gone home, says, "The
cattle of One-cubit and Two-cubits are in very good [condition]. Please
give food amply to both youths," the Gamarala ordered at the
house. Thereupon, they give food amply to both persons. For [many]
days besides, the two are thoroughly taking care of the cattle.
While Three-cubits is looking after the younger sister, one day
the younger sister, having called to remembrance her mother, began
to weep. Thereupon he said, "Four-cubits, younger sister, don't
cry. Our big elder brother and little elder brother [after] seeking
food for us two will now bring it. Then I will give you a great deal
to eat." While he was speaking in order to pacify her, she began to
weep still still more. Three-cubits endeavoured much to pacify her;
he was unable to pacify her.
Then Three-cubits says, "Younger sister, don't you cry; I will go on
the island, and bring a Kirala [212] fruit, and give you it. You remain
[here] without going to bathe, or going anywhere. I will go quickly,
and bring Kirala." Having said [this], Three-cubits went to the edge
of the island.
Just as he is going there, the Rakshasa having landed on the island
to seize and eat human bodies, when he is coming looking and looking
at the whole of the houses, he saw this Four-cubits, the little lass,
[213] and having sprung into the house, lifted her up and ran away.
On the other bank of the island, sitting in a boat a man is killing
fish. Then, having seen this Rakshasa lifting up this child and
going away, the man who is killing fish, having become afraid of the
Rakshasa, sprang from the boat into the water, and remained under water
(lit., swallowed up). After the Rakshasa, not seeing him, went away,
the man who is killing fish mounted into the boat.
Well then, Three-cubits, [after] plucking Kirala quickly having
gone taking them to give to his younger sister, when he looked his
younger sister was not [there]. Thereupon, when Three-cubits, saying
and saying, "Four cubits! Younger sister, younger sister!" was going
weeping and weeping, seeking her, through not seeing her he sought
and sought still still further, and went to the edge of the island.
While he was there weeping and weeping, saying and saying,
"Four-cubits! Younger sister!" that man who was rowing the boat heard
it, and came to see what this youth is lamenting for.
Having come, "What is it, boy, thou art lamenting for?" the boatman
asked.
Then he says, "Ane! Our younger sister was weeping and weeping
at home. Then, having come on the island to pluck a Kirala fruit,
I went back [after] plucking a Kirala fruit, to give it to younger
sister. Having gone home, when I looked for younger sister, younger
sister was not [there]," the youth, weeping and weeping, said to the
boatman, saying and saying [also], "When elder brothers have come now,
and have asked, 'Where is younger sister?' what shall I say?"
Then the boatman says, "Thou having now wept, what [good] will
it do? Why didst thou come away, leaving thy younger sister quite
alone? It would be thy younger sister whom, a little time before now,
when I was fishing and fishing sitting in the boat, I saw the Rakshasa
carrying, and going away with, after crossing to the other shore. I
also sank in the water through fear, and got hid."
Then this youth, Three-cubits, saying and saying, "Ayiyo! My younger
sister! My younger sister!" and again having wept and wept, rolling
on the ground, the boatman says to him, "Thou having now lamented,
what [good] will it do? Be off home!"
Well then, while Three-cubits is at home, weeping and weeping,
One-cubit having said, "Two-cubits! Younger brother," says [also],
"Now then, it is enough. We have stayed here. We don't know now what
our Three-cubits and Four-cubits our younger sister are doing at this
time. Let us go to look."
One-cubit and Two-cubits spoke together, and said, "Let us tell the
Gamarala to-day, and to-morrow go to the village, and return. To go
to look at either little younger brother or younger sister is good."
One-cubit and Two-cubits, the cattle having gone [home] in the evening,
put them in the folds; and having gone to the house told the Gamarala,
"We must go to our village, and [after] looking at our younger brother
and younger sister, come back," they said to the Gamarala.
Then the Gamarala said, "It is good. Go and come back again." When
he said, "What do ye want to take?" they said, "Should you tie up
and give us a few cakes to take to the village, it would be good."
Then the Gama-gaeni (wife of the Gamarala) quickly having tied up two
packets of cakes in sufficient quantity for both of them, gave them to
them to take. Both of them, taking them, set off to go to the village,
and went away.
Having gone, and crossed over to that shore, when they went home
only Three-cubits, their younger brother, was at home. "Where, little
younger brother, is younger sister?" asked One-cubit and Two-cubits.
Then Three-cubits said, "Elder brothers, after you went younger sister
began to cry. Then I said, 'Don't cry; I will go on the island and
pluck a Kirala fruit, and bring it.' Having gone, when coming [after]
plucking a Kirala fruit, a man who was in the boat at the island saw
that the Rakshasa went away taking younger sister," he said.