Story 17 - Concerning A Man And Two Yakas

IN a certain country there was a man who had cut a chena. The man, without any one joining with him, went one day and made ready to cut a fresh chena at a place where there was a large tree.

Then the Yaka who dwelt in the tree became afraid, and having descended to the ground, and having said:

“Lord, do not cut a chena here. At every eventide I will bring and give you rice, coconuts, chillies, etc.,”

he made obeisance.

The man said,

“It is good,”

and went home.

That very evening the Yaka brought and gave him rice and all things sufficient for curries, and went away. After that, in no long time the man became in a good position and wealthy, through the Yaka’s bringing him his provisions.

When coming afterwards, the Yaka met another Yaka, who asked,

“Where are you taking those things ?”

The Yaka replied,

“A man came to cut the residence in which I stay. On account of it, I promised to give him food and goods.”

Then the Yaka said,

“Do thou give the things to-day only. I will kill the man to-morrow.”

The other Yaka said,

“It is good.”

On the following day, when the man of that house was going somewhere or other, the Yaka who said,

“I will kill him,”

came to the house, and having crept under the bed remained there. At that time the man returned, and sitting on the bed, said to his wife,

“Bola, I am hungry enough to eat a Yaka.”

His wife had placed the knife on the shelf, and having plucked a pine-apple had put it under the bed. The woman [not seeing the Yaka], said,

“Look there ! On the shelf. Look there ! Under the bed.”

So the man, taking the knife that was on the shelf, went near the bed to get the pine-apple. Then the Yaka, thinking he was coming to kill and eat him, said,

“Lord, do not eat me. I will bring and give you each month anything you want.”

So the man saying,

“It is good,”

sent away the Yaka.

Then the Yaka met that other Yaka, and said,

“When I went to set you free I also was caught. Both of us are in the same state.”

After that he gave the things monthly. Then this man having become a great wealthy person, remained so.

North-western Province.

 

Note:

In a variant in Folk-Tales of Bengal (Day), pp. 258-260, a barber frightened a Bhuta (evil spirit) who was going to eat him, by threatening to put him in his bag. He took out his looking-glass, and showed the Bhuta his reflection, which the evil spirit thought was another imprisoned one. The Bhuta promised to obey the barber’s orders, and provided money, and a granary filled with paddy. The Bhfita’s uncle told him that he had been cheated ; but he was treated in the same way, and made to build another granary, and fill it with rice.