While [she was] thus holding it, calling him they went to the city
to which the party are going. Having gone [there] and told the blind
man to stay [with them] that day night, they gave him amply food
and drink, and the mat also for sleeping on. Next day after light
fell having said to the blind person, "Now then; there! You having
gone into that street and begged, seeking something, eat," with much
kindness they started him.
Then the blind person having gone near the royal house at that city,
said, "Ane! O Deity, [319] when I was coming away with my wife
by the middle of a forest wilderness, a Hettiya having quarrelled
with his father, and said that he was going to another country, and
for six days having not a meal, as he was coming fell behind us. We
gave him the cooked rice that we brought for our expenses, and came
calling him [to accompany us]. As though in that way the assistance
were insufficient, the Hettiya uprooting my wife also [from me] said
he will not give her to me, and drove me away. To whom shall I tell
this suit? Do you investigate only suits for rich persons? Do you
not institute suits for poor persons? Now then, how shall I obtain
a living?" Having said [this] he began to weep.
At that time the [royal] messengers having gone, told it to the
King. Thereupon the King also having become grieved regarding it,
sent messengers and caused the Hettiya who came with the blind person,
and his wife, to be brought.
Having heard the case, he said, "This young Hettiya did not take a wife
[for himself]; he took the blind person's wife," and ordered them to
behead the Hettiya. [320] Having said, "The woman having come in diga
[marriage] to the blind person and in the meantime having endangered
him, went with another man," he ordered them to put her in a lime-kiln
and burn her. Having given a little money to the blind person he told
him to go.
Thereupon the blind person, taking the money also and having gone
outside the royal palace, was saying and saying, "Ane! O Gods, what
is it that has occurred to me! At the time when I remained for six
days in the midst of the forest, this Hettiya and his wife having
met with me while they are coming, and given food to me who was in
hunger for six days, brought me to this city, and let me go. I having
told all these (lit., these these) lies [in order] to take the woman,
I was not allowed to take the woman, nor were the two persons allowed
to live well together. The foolish King without giving me the woman
ordered them to kill her. Now then, where shall I go?"
At that time a man having heard him, quickly went and said to the King
that this blind person says thus. Then the King quickly having caused
the blind person to be brought, and having released the Hettiya and
the woman from death, and given presents to the two persons, and sent
them away, ordered the blind person to be killed.
Immigrant from Malayalam, Southern India. (Written in
Sinhalese, and partly related in that language.)
This story is given in Tales of the Sun (Mrs. H. Kingscote and Natesa
Sastri), p. 165.