[No. 27.]
Title of Story.—The Spirit and the Sultan's Son.
Dramatis Personæ.—Sultan.—His wife.—Three sons.—Demon.—People. Horse.—Slaves.—Sultan.—His daughter.—Her child.
Abstract of Story—(1) A sultan who owned property and many towns much wished for a son, thinking all possessions would be lost at death. Demon came, in form of a man, asked sultan what he would give him if, owing to his (demon's) medicine, a son were born? Sultan offered half property. Demon would not accept it or half his towns, but was satisfied with promise of one child should sultan have two.—(2) Sultan's wife ate medicine, and three boys were born. Sultan would not separate children at demon's first request, saying they could not read. Demon said he would teach them, and at his home they stayed until they knew all learning, and made letters, when they were taken home to sultan and division made, one of the lads who was very clever falling to demon, the other two remained with sultan. The boy was taken home by adopted father, and being trusted with everything, could use what keys he liked. One day unfastened room in which was molten gold, which would not come off finger he touched it with, so he tied on a rag, telling father he had cut it.—(3) Next day father went out. Boy took all keys, opened first room, saw goats' bones; in second room, sheeps' bones; third, those of oxen; fourth, donkeys'; fifth, horses'; sixth, men's skulls ; seventh, living horse, which told him it was his father's business to eat people, donkeys, horses, oxen, goats, and all things, it and the boy only being left.—(4) Horse told boy to unfasten it, open treasure chamber, when it would swallow everything, and when man returned, having invited people to eat them both, would tell boy to get firewood, make up fire for cauldron, and get into a swing over it. Boy was to refuse, and man would do these things himself, which happened, latter meeting death by being pushed into boiling ghee.—(5) People came for feast, could not find man; on looking into cauldron, saw food done; ate the contents and food and rice in house. Next day came again and ate.—(6) Boy, who had run away after man's death met horse (who went before man returned) under a tree, rode on its back till arriving at end of a town. They stopped and built a large house, putting in it horses, asses, oxen, goats, and slaves. Sultan hearing of it, sent to know if news was true that there was large house, and asked who was owner. People told him it was a foreigner who was travelling. Sultan went to see him, and stayed there, becoming much attached to him.—(7) Sultan gave him daughter in marriage. Man dwelt there with his wife, their one child, and his horse, unto the end, he loving his horse like his own soul.
