Story 129 - The Lad Who Sang Songs

AT a certain time there was a man; the man had a girl and a boy. At the time when they were thus, the man went alone to the sea to catch fish (mas). Having gone, when he was catching fish a very large wave having knocked him into the sea, the man on account of the water (current) drifted away.

At that time the men of the ferry-boat near there were laying nets. This man having gone was entangled (lit., tied) in the nets. Then the ferry-boat men drew out the nets. When they looked a man was entangled in a net. Then, taking the man ashore they laid him on his face, and while they were pressing on his belly with the feet, without the man’s life going he breathed.^[1] Then without having caused hurt to this man when they were treading on his belly for the water to go, the man became conscious.

Then the men having said,

“Of what country are you?”

having spread the news around, and given him cooked rice which had been taken for the party to eat, they told him to choose [some] fishes. He having selected them, in the evening they went to the village, taking the man. Having gone [there], as this man who fell into the sea does not know the road to go to his village, doing work for hire for the ferry-boat men and continuing to eat [thus], he stayed [there].

The elder female child and the younger lad whom there were of the man who fell into the sea, went to the Hettiya’s shop to bring salt. At the time when they went, the Hettiyas put the girl in the house, and shut the door. Having beaten the boy, they drove him away.

At that time, the King of that city having made ready a very great eating (kaemn), sent letters to the Kings of other cities to come for the eating. After that, those Kings all came to the city. In the royal party, the King of the city at which was the man who fell into the sea and went ashore, also came.

Having come, all the party having assembled in that day night, after they ate the food this lad who had lost his father and elder sister had come [there]. Having given food to this lad, while he was [there] the royal party, having eaten and drunk, conversed together regarding the happiness and sorrow in the various cities.

Then this lad who was without father and elder sister, thought of telling the matters which the party omitted, by way of a verse.

Having thought of it he says,

Apucci rnude waetuna.    Father fell into the sea.
Akka Hettiya                    In his quarter the Chetti
Padeta damala                Elder sister has set; he
Dora wahagatta.             The door has shut on me.
Ayinan ! Ayinan !             Alas ! Alas !

Thereupon, having met with this lad, hearing the words that ought to be known at the city at which they are, they spoke,

“Hahak! Hahak !^[2] don’t speak.”

Having stopped the talk, they said,

“Who is that lad who said the verse ? Say that verse again for us to hear.”

Then the boy said again,

Father fell into the sea.
In his quarter the Chetti
Elder sister has set; he
The door has shut on me.
Alas ! Alas !

Then the royal party, calling the boy near, and after that having heard of the matters that occurred, gave food to the lad from the royal house, and made him stay at the royal house.

When he was [there] in that way for a little time, the King of that city having died, because a King was necessary to burn [the corpse]^[3] they decorated the tusk elephant, and taking it they walk through the whole city. Then the tusk elephant keeps coming towards the palace itself.

Because of it, men came out on the path on which the tusk elephant is coming. At that time, the tusk elephant having come, kneeling down made obeisance to that lad.

Then those men, having made the lad bathe in sandal water (water perfumed with sandal), and placed him on the tusk elephant’s back, went in procession round the city, and having come back they burnt that King, and made a funeral mound [over the ashes].

While exercising the sovereignty over the men of the city, when a little time had gone the King went to that place called the Hettiya quarter, and having beheaded all the Hettiyas, came back calling his elder sister [to accompany him], and gave her in marriage.

There was a daughter of the dead King. After marrying that Princess, in a little time there was a child.

After that, he went to that city in which his father is, and calling his father also, he returned. Having come back, he remained exercising the sovereignty in a good manner.

North-central Province.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Husma elunaya.

[2]:

I do not know if this word is intended for an exclamation (= haha), or a noun, hasak, a sorrow.

[3]:

See the variant from Tibetan Tales at the end of No. 190. vol. iii.