THE CONQUEST OF LANKA 125
pieces of golden armour, — ^-they came gradually nearer and nearer to the scene of the battle between Ravana and the eagle. At last they reached the spot itself, to find the king of birds with both his wings cut off in the encounter, breathing his last. Between laboured gasps he told them of the struggles he had witnessed, and the cries he had heard. He was able also to utter the name of the Demon-King. But when he would have told them more, he died. And the Lord, filled with gratitude and compassion for this feathered hero, performed over his dead body those ceremonies of piety which lift the soul to the higher regions. And then, making their way from point to point, the two brothers persisted in their quest of Sita.
It was in the forest that bordered the beautiful lake of Pampa, with its red and white lotuses, that they met with a band of monkeys whose chieftain, Sugriva, was mourning the capture of his own wife at the hands of an enemy. Strange to say, it had been into the midst of this very Sugriva's council that Sita had dropped her scarf and ornaments, and these were now brought forth for Rama's inspection. At sight of them he was overcome, for the things were undoubtedly Sita's, though Lakshmana was able to recognise only his anklets. Then the monkeys created branches of fragrant and beautiful blossoms to shade their
