She asked at the hand of the next sister-in-law. That sister-in-law
also replied in the same way. Thus, in that manner having asked at
the hand of the whole seven, not even one person gave it.
Afterwards, the younger sister having cooked and eaten, went alone
to pluck Damba, and having ascended the Damba tree, while she was
eating Damba it became night.
A Leopard having come near the Damba tree [said], "[How] if you should
throw down a Damba branch with your golden little hand?"
After that, the Princess threw down a Damba branch. The Leopard having
eaten [the fruit on] it, said again, "[How] if you should throw down
a Damba branch with your golden little hand?"
Again she threw one down. Then the Leopard said, "Holding fast, fast,
[how] if you should slowly slowly descend?"
Then through fear the Princess is there without descending.
The Leopard another time said, "Holding fast, fast, [how] if you
should slowly slowly descend?"
The Princess descended. Then the Leopard, placing the Princess on
his back, went to his rock cave. While living in that manner the
Princess bore a child. The Leopard and Princess stayed there very
trustfully. The Leopard had much goods. The paddy store-rooms had been
filled, the millet store-rooms had been filled, the meneri store-rooms
had been filled, there are many cattle.
When they had been living there many days, the Leopard said, "I am
about to go on a journey to-morrow; I shall be unable to return for
two or three days. You, shutting the rock cave, must be [here]. Until
the time when I come do not go outside." On the following day the
Leopard went away.
Well then, while the Princess was alone in the rock cave, the elder
brothers of the Princess having come hunting, a great rain rained. The
Princes having been [sheltering] near a tree, when they were walking
along in the rain they met with the rock cave, and saw also their
younger sister.
"What art thou here for? We sought and sought so much time, and could
not find thee. Here thou art! What was the manner in which thou camest
here?" they asked at the hand of their younger sister.
Then the younger sister said, "I asked for Damba at the hand of
sisters-in-law. The whole seven did not give it. On account of that
I came to eat Damba, and while I was alone in the Damba tree the
Leopard came.
"Afterwards he told me to throw down a Damba branch; I threw down
two Damba branches. Saying and saying [it was only] until the time
when the Leopard was going, I stayed in the tree.
"While I was there it became night. Then the Leopard told me to
descend. I stayed [there] without descending. The Leopard told me
twice to descend. Afterwards I descended. The Leopard, putting me on
his back, came here. From that day I am living here."