At a certain city there were seven women. The seven went into the
jungle for firewood. Out of them one woman met with a young female Hare
(Ha paetikki). The other six persons brought six bundles of firewood;
the woman brought the Leveret.
There were seven Princes (sons) of the woman who brought the
Leveret. Out of them, to the youngest Prince she gave the Leveret
in marriage.
The above-mentioned seven Princes cut a chena. Having sown millet
(kurahan) in the chena it ripened. After that, for cutting the millet
the six wives of the above-mentioned six brothers having come out,
said to the youngest Prince, "Tell your wife to come."
Thereupon the Prince says, "How are there women for me? My parents
gave me a female Leveret in marriage."
Thereupon the Leveret says, "What is it to you? tik; I am proud,
tik." [171] Having said it, springing into the house she stayed
[there].
Having waited [there] in this way, when it was becoming night she went
into the jungle, and collecting the whole of the hares of both sides
(m. and f.) went to the chena, and having cut all the millet they
carried the whole to the store-room. After that, having allowed all
the hares (haho) to go, the Leveret the same night came home.
After it became light, the above-mentioned female Hare's husband went
to the chena. At the time when he looked there, ascertaining that
the millet is cut and finished, he said thus, "Ane! Elder brothers'
wives, with no helper, have finished the millet. Having divided the
millet there they brought it [home]."
Not a long time afterwards, while they are [there], people came for
giving betel for a wedding at that village. [172] Having given betel
there to the seven persons they went away.
On the day for going there to the wedding they came [for them]. After
that, the above-mentioned six women came out, and said, "Tell your
wife to come out to go."
Thereupon that Prince says, "How are there women for me? My two
parents gave me a female Hare in marriage. I am unable to go," he said.
Thereupon the female Hare says, "You go," she said. So the Prince went.
Afterwards the female Hare went there; having taken off her hare
jacket on the road, she went to the [wedding] feast.
The Prince [recognised her there, went back, and found and] burned
the hare jacket which she had hidden [so that she was unable to resume
her hare form again].
Tom-tom Beater. North-western Province.
In Folk-Tales of Hindustan (Shaik Chilli), p. 54, the youngest of seven
Princes married a female Monkey who in the end proved to be a fairy,
and took off her monkey skin.