VII
KATMANUSH, OR THE HUMAN BEING WHO WAS MADE OF WOOD
AT a fair held on the borders of two contiguous kingdoms, there assembled a large crowd, but amongst all those who gathered there, two especially attracted the chief attention; the prince of one of the kingdoms, and the princess of the other. They were complete strangers to one another and happening both to fancy the same exquisite article which was for sale, they began bargaining for it. Taking advantage of the competition, the seller raised its price, till at last the prince thought it to be too high, and left the article for the princess to buy. But he was galled at the disappointment and beckoning the princess aside, he whispered into her ear, "If I ever possess you as my wife, I shall leave you, even on the day of our marriage." The princess also in a whisper made the reply, " If what you suppose takes place, I shall make you eat jhole-bhát[1] for six months." By this threat, she meant that she would make him lie prostrate on a sick-bed for six months.
The two then parted, though neither of them forgot the episode. In the course of a few months, the prince's father, thinking of marrying his son, sent Ghataks[2] to the neighbouring kingdoms, and the princess's father happened at the same time to do the same with regard to his daughter. The Ghataks of both countries met, and patched up a contract of marriage between the prince and the princess, to be in time confirmed by their fathers. The contract was ratified, and
