In a certain country a Padu [224] man, and an Appuhami [225] having
joined together, went away on a journey, it is said. Of the two
persons, the Padu man tied up for himself a packet of cooked rice,
the Appuhami tied up for himself a packet of paddy dust, it is said.
Those two persons having gone taking the two packets, when the time
for eating cooked rice in the daytime arrived they halted at one spot,
and having become ready to eat cooked rice, unfastened the two packets,
it is said. At the time when they unfastened the two packets, the two
persons mutually saw the Padu man's cooked rice and curry, and the
Appuhami's paddy dust. Having seen them, without having spoken they
ate the food in their own packets, and having stayed a little time,
set off and went away.
When they are going a considerable distance, a man came, bringing a
tom-tom (berayak) to sell.
The Padda having asked the price of the tom-tom from the man who
brings the tom-tom to sell, said to the Appuhami, "Please take and
give me this tom-tom."
Then anger having gone to the Appuhami [he said], "Be off, dolt! [226]
That I should come with thee being insufficient, thou toldest me to
take and give thee this tom-tom!"
"It is good, Appuhami. If so, I will mention the evidence that you
ate paddy dust," he said.
The Appuhami having become afraid, and having said, "Ane! Bola,
I will take and give thee the tom-tom. Don't tell any one about the
matter of the dust eating," took and gave the tom-tom to the Padda.
Taking the tom-tom, when they are going a considerable distance,
still [another] man brought a devil-dancer's mask (wes-muhuna) to
sell. The Padda having asked the price of the mask, said, "Appuhami,
please take and give me this mask."
Having said, "Be off, dolt! Having taken and given thee a tom-tom,
am I to take and give thee a mask too?" the Appuhami scolded the Padda.
"If so, I will mention the matter of the dust eating," he
said. Thereupon the Appuhami having become afraid, took and gave
the mask.
Taking also the mask, when they are going a considerable distance,
yet [another] man brought a pair of devil-dancer's hawk's bells
to sell. The Padda having asked the price of the bells also, and
having said, "Appuhami, take and give me this pair of bells," when
the Appuhami said he would not, "If so, I shall mention the evidence
that you ate the dust," he said.
Thereupon, the Appuhami having become afraid, and having said, "Now
then, having taken and given thee anything thou art telling and telling
[me to give], my money is done, too," took and gave the pair of bells.
After that, again having gone a considerable distance they descended to
a great abandoned village. When they were going a considerable distance
in the village they saw that there is a house. These two persons at
the time when it was becoming evening went to that house. The house
was a Rakshasi's house.
The Rakshasi's daughter having been [there] and having wept says,
"Ane! Brothers, [227] our mother is a Rakshasi. She is not at home
now; at this time she will be coming. As soon as mother comes, [228]
seizing you two she will eat you. Having gone to any possible place,
escape," she said.
The Appuhami through fear began to tremble. The Padda says, "Why,
younger sister? This night where are we to go? By any possible method
get us inside the house," he said.
"If so, you two, not talking, having ascended to this store-loft
(atuwa) sit down," she said.
The Appuhami and the Padda having climbed up to the store-loft, stayed
[there].
After a little time the Rakshasi came. When she asked, "What is the
smell of human flesh?" the daughter says, "Why, mother? Night and
day continually having eaten and eaten human flesh and having come,
why do you ask me what is the smell of human flesh?" she said.
Thereupon the Rakshasi, not speaking, went to sleep, together with
the daughter.
The Padda sitting above in the store-loft says to the Appuhami,
"Ane! Appuhami, it was in my mind to dance a little."
Thereupon the Appuhami says, "Cah, Bola! Dolt! You are preparing
to dance; I am hiding in fear. Shouldst thou go for thy dancing,
the Rakshasi having killed us both will seize and eat us," he said.
"If so, I will mention the fact that the Appuhami ate the dust,"
he said.
The Appuhami then says, "If so, having taken and placed the tom-tom
aside, do thou imagine that thou hast beaten the tom-tom; bringing the
devil-dancer's mask near thy face, imagine that thou hast tied it on;
and imagining that thou hast tied the pair of bells on thy two legs,
having taken and taken all, put them on one side," he said.
And the Padda, having said, "It is good," tying on well the
devil-dancer's mask and having made it tight, and tying the pair of
bells on his two legs, and tying the tom-tom at his waist, saying
"Hu" with great strength, sprang down from the store-loft to the
place where the Rakshasi was sleeping; and began to dance.