There stands on the old Agra Bombay Road, between Goona in Central
India and Jhansi, a small village beside a stream, and this used to
be a bathing stage for travellers in the old days, before railways
were known in India.
In the village there once lived a man whose wife died, leaving an
only daughter. The girl, as she grew to womanhood, had a very bad
time of it, as all the housework fell upon her shoulders. She had
to cook her father's food and carry it to him in the fields; to draw
water for the cattle and look after them, besides many other things
which took up her time and strength.
So she invoked the aid of the Gods.
Next time she went to draw water from the well, which was a very deep
one, and required a long, long string for the bucket, she looked in,
and lo! the water had risen to the top, and was almost overflowing,
so that there was no need to draw any; and her father's cattle stood
round and drank their fill.
Then she filled her chattie with water, and enjoyed a bath in the
sunshine.
After a time the water sank to its usual level. Thus far all was well,
but her father noticed how quickly the cattle had been watered, and how
soon his daughter returned home: also he missed the long rope which
she always carried on her arm. He began to suspect that some unknown
man, a stranger to himself, used to help her, and determined to watch.
A great fig tree grew beside the well; and one day he concealed
himself in its branches.
As usual, his daughter came with the cattle, and all happened as
before. He was struck with wonder and amazement at what he saw.
Just as the girl was about to take her usual bath, she looked up and
saw him.
In a moment she felt that he had suspected her of some evil. "Father,"
cried she, "why do you look with an evil eye on your child? Do you
not believe that the Gods have helped her?"
But before her father could reply, she sank down to the bottom of the
well with the water and never rose again, for the outraged Gods took
her to themselves; and, in token of their displeasure, the well was
cleft from top to bottom, and hillocks formed on either side. From
this spot flows a tiny stream, which, if you follow it, becomes a
mighty river.