Page:The Indian Antiquary, Vol. 4-1875.djvu/272

September, I87&] SA-VTALI FOLKLORE. 250 by tkeir chief and armed with hows, advanced to the attack, determined to be avenged upon the strangers. They commenced shooting, bub the brothers, hidden behind their dram, re- mained unharmed. After all their arrows had been shot, Gnja opened the hole of his drum, and the bees streamed out like a cart-rope. The villagers now prayed to be released from this plague of bees, and their chief promised to give one of them his daughter in marriage, also a yoke of oxen and a piece of land. Guja then calling his bees forced them again into the drum. The chief performed his promise. Kan ran was married to his daughter, and he cultivated the land which his father-in-law gave him. One day, for some reason, Kanran was ob- liged to leave home for a short time, and upon his departure gave Gnja this parting injunc- tion : — ** If," said he, " the plough become at any time entangled in the ground, and the ox be unable to get along, strike it with your axe." Guja imagined that his brother was speaking of the ox, so when the plough became entangled he struck the ox with his axe and killed him, instead of catting away the obstruction, as his brothor had intended. Kanran, returning home about this time, was informed by his wife of what had happened. Upon hearing it, he be- came greatly enraged, and ran to the spot, in- tending to kill his brother. Guja, however, be- '.lining aware of his brother's intention, imme- il::iuly snatched up the entrails of the ox and fled. Seeing a tree having a large hole in the trunk, he got inside, having first covered himself with the entraQs. Kanran, arriving at the spot, thrust his spear iuto the hole repeatedly, and when he drew it oat he perceived that it was smeared with blood. He exclaimed, " I have speared him to death, now he won't kill any more of my oxen," and returned home. Guja was not at all hurt, the spear not having touched him, — the blood was not his, but that of the ox. Having satisfied himself that no one was near, ho came out of the hole, and crept secretly into his brother's house. Climbing to the top of the house, he sat there perched upon one of the beams. A little while afterwards Kanran entered, bringing with lum portions of the flesh of the slain ox, also some rice. Having closed the door, he commenced to offer a sacrifice to his brother Guja s memory- The usual ceremonies having been performed, he addressed the seal of his departed brother in the following manner: — "0 Guja, receive these offerings. I killed yon indeed, but don't he angry with mo for doing so. Condescend to accept this meat and rice." Guja, from his hiding-place, replied, " Very well, lay ihem down." Kanran, hearing this voice, was greatly astonished, but was afraid to look in the direc- tion from which the sound proceeded. Going out, he inquired of the villagers as to whether it was possible for a dead man to speak. They told him that such was sometimes the case. Whilst Kanran was talking to the neighbours, Guja escaped secretly by a back door, taking with him the meat and rice. He had not gone far before he encountered some men who, he afterwards learned, wore professional thieves. He divided his meat and rice with them, and they became great friends. Guja became their companion in their plundering expeditions. However, afterwards coming to words, they beat Guja severely, tied his hands and feet^ and were carrying him off to the river with the intention of drowning him. But on the way they were compelled by hunger to go in search of food, and not wishing to be burdened with Guja they set him down bound under a tree. A shepherd passing that way, and attracted by his crying, inquired who he was and why he was crying. Guja answered, "I am a king's son, uid am being taken against my will to be married to a king's daughter for whom I have not the slightest affection." Tho shepherd answered^ " I am indeed sorry for you, but let me go instead of you, I will gladly marry her." So the shepherd quickly released Guja, and allowed himself to be bound in his place. The t! soon afterwards returning, took up the supposed Gnja, and in spite of the shepherd's protesta- tions that ho was not Gnja they threw him into the river. In the meantime Guja fled, driving £ him the shepherd's coWs. The thieves afterwards met him again, and seeing the cows inquired of Guja whence he had procured them. Guja answered, " Don't you remember you threw me into the river ? there it was I got all these. Let me throw, you in too, and you will get as many cows as you wish." This proposition meeting with general approbation, they suffered themselves to be bonnd and thrown into the river, where, as a natural consequenoe, all were drowned.