The journey was to be by boat. Lelha sent his brothers on ahead in one
boat, and he and his wife followed in another. There was a distance
of two or three kos between the boats.
Lelha's brothers as they sailed along came to a certain ghat at which
a raja was bathing. He was raja of the country through which they
were passing. He demanded from Lelha's brothers to know what they had
in their boat. They replied, "We have hiras and manis with us." Then
the raja said, "Shew them to me. You may be thieves." They replied,
"No, they are inside these Sinjo fruits." The raja said, "Break one, I
wish to see what they are like." So the brothers broke one, but nothing
was found in it. Then the raja called his soldiers, and ordered them
to bind the four brothers. So the soldiers seized and bound them, and
carried them off to prison. Just then Lelha's boat arrived. He was in
time to see his brothers pass within the prison doors. Having seen the
four brothers in safe custody the raja returned to the bathing ghat,
and seeing Lelha he demanded to know what he had in his boat. Lelha
answered, "We have hiras and manis as our cargo." The raja then said,
"Shew them to me, I would fain look upon them." Lelha said, "You wish
to see hiras and manis without any trouble to yourself. If I show
you them, what will you give me in return? There are hiras and manis
in this Sinjo fruit." The raja replied, "Those who came before you
deceived me. I have no doubt, but that you will do so also." Lelha
said, "What will you give me? Make an offer, and I shall shew you
them at once." The raja replied, "I have one daughter, her I will
give to you, and along with her an estate, if there are hiras and
manis in that Sinjo fruit, and if there are none in it, I will keep
you prisoner all your lifetime." Lelha immediately broke one of the
Sinjo fruits, and five hiras and manis rolled out. When the raja saw
it he was confounded, but what could he do? According to his promise,
he gave him his daughter and an estate.
The marriage ceremony being over, Lelha was invited to partake of the
raja's hospitality, but he refused, saying, "If you set my brothers
at liberty I shall eat, but not unless you do so." So the brothers
were released, and taken to the bath. After they had bathed, their
feet were washed, and they were led into the palace to the feast.
The brothers, after they were seated, began to whisper to each other,
saying, "Whose house is this? Of what caste are the people? Does he
wish to make us lose our caste?" But Lelha reassured them by saying,
"Not so, my brothers. I have espoused the raja's daughter." Hearing
this they were relieved, and all enjoyed the marriage feast.