In a certain country there are a female Crow and a male Crow. While
they were thus, the female Crow having thought of eating cakes,
went with the male Crow to break firewood. Having gone, [after]
breaking firewood the male Crow took a bundle of firewood [and came
away with it].
When the female Crow was there unable to lift up her bundle of
firewood, she saw that a lad who looks after cattle was going by,
and having called to him, when she said, "Son, lift up the bundle
of firewood and go; I will give you cakes," the lad lifted it up and
gave her it, and went away.
After that, the lad having come to eat cakes, when he asked for cakes
the female Crow gave him cakes.
The lad, having gone away taking the cakes, and ascended a tree, when
he was eating them a Rakshasi came. When she looked up the tree,
having seen a lad eating cakes, she said, "Ane! Son, throw down
cakes for me also." So the lad threw down a cake. Having said, "It
is in the dung-heap," she told him to throw down one more. Thereupon
the lad threw down one more. "That also is in the dung-heap," she
said. After all were finished in that way, the Rakshasi says to the
lad, "Now then, son, tying both legs and both hands jump into this
bag," she said. Then the lad jumped.
The Rakshasi having put the lad in the bag, and [after] tying it
having gone home, gave it to the Rakshasi's daughter, and said,
"Fry this, and put it away until the time when I come." Having said
[this], the Rakshasi went away somewhere or other.
After that, the Rakshasi's daughter opened the bag, and taking out
the lad, told the lad to blow up the fire on the hearth. Thereupon
the lad says, "I don't know [how]," he said.
Then when the Rakshasi's daughter descends to the hearth to show him,
the lad pushed the Rakshasi's daughter into the oil cooking-pot that
was on the hearth.
After she was fried, having taken it off and put it away, taking the
chillies [grinding] stone he climbed up the Palmira tree which was
at the doorway.
While he is [there] the Rakshasi, having come back, says, "Wherever
went my daughter? Can she have gone for firewood? Can she have gone
for water?" [232]
Having said and said it, when she is eating, the lad sitting in the
tree says,
"Of the heifer's flesh "Naembige malu
The heifer herself [is] the eater. Naembima kanna.
The Palmira tree at the doorway. Dorakada tal gaha.
Dan, dun." Dan, dun."
While he is saying it, when the Rakshasi had looked up and seen that
the lad is in the tree, as she is going to climb the tree the lad threw
down the chillies [grinding] stone on the Rakshasi's body. Thereupon
the Rakshasi died.
After that, the lad having descended from the tree, put the Rakshasi
into a well, and went away.
Bintaenna, Uva Province.