At a certain time at a certain village there were a husband and a
wife. During the time when they were [there] the two together went
to a chena. Having gone, [after] plucking an Ash-pumpkin they brought
it and placed it in a large pot under seven earthen cooking pots.
When not much time had gone, the seven earthen cooking pots were
shaken. Then this party having opened the mouths of the cooking pots,
when they looked a Python had filled up the large pot.
After that, the party plaited seven beds. [332] Having plaited them,
they caused the Python to sleep on the seven beds.
Next, having gone to a place where seven daughters were, they asked
for an assistant (a wife) for that Python. Having asked, they brought
the eldest sister. Having brought her, when they opened the house door
the woman having seen this Python and being afraid, said, "Ane! The
way in which fathers have sought and given me in marriage!" and just
as it became light the girl went home.
In that manner they brought the six women. All six being afraid of
this Python went away.
They brought the youngest girl of the seven. [She] having come there,
when two or three months had gone they opened the house door. After
that, the girl having seen the Python and being afraid, said in
distress, "Ane! The danger that my parents have made for me, having
given me in diga [marriage] to a Python! There is no place for me to
lie down."
Thereupon the Python having made room on one out of the seven beds,
remained on six.
On the following day she spoke in the same manner. Then the Python,
having made room on two out of the seven beds, remained on five. On
the following day in the evening she spoke in the same manner; then
the Python, having made room on three out of the seven beds, was
on four. On the following day in the evening she spoke in the same
manner; then the Python, having made room on four out of the seven
beds, was on three. On the following day evening she said the same;
then the Python, having made room on five out of the seven beds,
was on two. On the following day evening she said the same; then the
Python, having made room on six out of the seven beds, was on one.
On the seventh day morning the Python came to the veranda. At that
time, the mother-in-law of the woman who had come in diga [marriage]
to the Python, said to the woman, "Daughter, lower a little paddy
from the corn store, [333] and having winnowed, boil it."
Then the woman (girl), for the sake of causing the Python to speak,
applied (dunna, presented) the forked pole [for raising the conical
roof] on the outer side of the eaves. [334]
Then the Python says, "In our country our mother said that on the
other side (lit., hand) is the way."
Thereupon the woman, having applied the forked pole on the inner side,
and raised the (conical) roof, and lowered paddy, put it on the outer
side of the winnowing tray, and began to winnow it.
Then the Python says, "It is not in that way. In our country our
mother said on the other side is the way." So the woman put it on
the inner side of the winnowing tray, and winnowed the paddy.
Having winnowed it, still for the sake of causing the Python to
speak she put the paddy on the outer side of the large cooking pot,
and prepared (lit., made) to boil it.
Thereupon the Python says, "It is not in that way. In our country
our mother said on the other side is the way." So the woman, having
put it inside the large cooking pot, boiled the paddy.
Still for the sake of causing the Python to speak having [taken out
the paddy, and] placed it on the outer side of the mat, she prepared
to spread out the paddy to dry.
Thereupon the Python says, "It is not in that way. In our country
our mother said on the other side is the way." So the woman, having
put it on the inner side of the mat, spread out the paddy to dry.
The woman, also for the sake of causing the Python to speak, having
[taken it up after it was dried, and] placed it on the outer side
(end) of the paddy mortar, prepared to pound the paddy.
Thereupon the Python says, "It is not in that way. In our country our
mother said at the other side (end) is the way." So having put it on
the inside, and pounded the paddy [to remove the skin], she winnowed
it. (It was now cleaned rice, ready for cooking.)
Then a Bana (reading of the Buddhist Scriptures) having been appointed
at the pansala near that village, all are going to the Bana. This
woman says, "Owing to the fate which my parents have made for me
there is also no hearing Bana [for me]."
Thereupon the Python says, "Haven't you bracelets and rings to put
on as ornaments? Haven't you dresses? Wearing them and adorning
[yourself] in a good manner, go with our parents," he said.
Then the woman says, "Other good caste (rate) women go, sending the
men first. [335] It does not matter that I must go alone!"
Thereupon, still the Python says, "I am staying at home. Go with my
parents," he said.
Then while the woman was going with her mother-in-law's party to hear
Bana, the Python, having got hid, remained at the road on which she
intended to go. At that time the Python having taken off his Python
jacket and having placed it on the clothes-line in the enclosure
(malu ane), went to hear the Bana [in the form of a Prince].
Thereupon, this woman having seen her husband who was going to the
pansala, came home, and having taken the Python jacket which was
placed on the clothes-line in the enclosure and put it [in the fire]
on the hearth, the woman, too, went back to hear the Bana. Thereafter,
the Python Prince having returned, when he looked for the Python jacket
it had been put on the hearth [and burnt]. Thereupon he remained as
a husband for that woman.
After that, when not much time had gone, telling her, and
having prepared, they went to the house of his mother-in-law and
father-in-law. Thereupon the six women who were brought at first for
the Python, having said, "Ane! Our husband is coming," came in front
[of him].
Then this younger woman, having said, "At first having said ye do
not want him, how does the Prince who has come become yours now? He
belongs only to me," began to quarrel [with them].
Then of those six women the eldest woman having longed for this Python
Prince, said, "Father, seek for a Python for me, and give me it,"
and remained without eating and without drinking.
Thereupon, the man being unable to get rid [of the importunity] of
that eldest daughter, calling men and having gone, and having set
nets, when they were driving (elawana-kota) the middle of the forest
a Python was caught in the net.
Having brought the Python, the father of the woman, having asked her
and said he brought it as her husband, put it in the house (room)
of the woman, and said, "There. Take charge of it."
Thereupon the woman having gone into the house, [after] shutting the
door unfastened the sack in which was the Python. Then the Python
seized the woman, and twisting around her, making fold after fold,
began to eat her.
At that time, the father of the woman [hearing sounds] like throwing
down coconuts in the corn store, like pouring water into the water
jar, said two or three times, "Don't kill my daughter, Ade!" Then the
Python, having completely swallowed the woman, remained [as though]
unconscious.
On the following day, in the morning, the woman's parents having
come and said, "Daughter, open the door," called her two or three
times. Having called her, when they looked [for a reply] she did
not speak.
Because of that, having broken [through] the wall near the door bolt,
and opened the door, when they looked, the Python, having swallowed
the woman, [336] remained [as though] unconscious. Thereupon, they
drove away and sent off the Python.
North-central Province.
In the Katha Sarit Sagara (Tawney), vol. ii, p. 595, a dependant
of King Vikramaditya became a python on eating a gourd which he
found in a garden. He was restored to his former shape by means of
a sternutatory which was made from the extract obtained from a plant.
In Chinese Nights' Entertainment (A. M. Fielde), p. 45, a man promised
to give one of his three daughters in marriage to a serpent that seized
him. The two elder ones refused; the youngest agreed to marry it. She
lived with the snake in a palace. On her return one day with water
from a distant spring after the well dried up she found the serpent
dying of thirst, and plunged it in the water. The spell which bound
it being thus neutralised it became a handsome man, with whom she
continued to dwell happily.
In Folklore of the Santal Parganas (collected by Rev. Dr. Bodding),
p. 255, a herd-boy who saw a girl throw off a dog skin that she wore,
and bathe, afterwards insisted on marrying this dog. Each night she
removed the skin and went out, until on one occasion he threw the
skin into the fire, after which she retained her human form. A friend
of his determined to imitate him, and married a bitch with the usual
ceremonies; but on the way home she was so savage that he let her go,
and he was laughed at so much that he hanged himself.
At p. 227 there is an account of a caterpillar boy who at night took
off his outer skin and went to dance. The Princess who had selected
and married him burnt his skin one night, and he retained his Prince's
form afterwards.