Santal (South Asian people) -- Folklore; Santali literature -- Translations into English; Tales -- India
In the morning Lelha again prepared the food, and his brothers having
breakfasted, mounted their horses, and rode off to the bazaar, where
they raced as usual. After they had gone, Lelha gathered all their
property together, and hid it as he had done on the day previous. Then,
mounting an Indarpuri Sadom, he followed his brothers, and on coming
up with them saluted them, but they did not recognize him as their
brother. Then a conversation similar to that of the previous day
passed between Lelha and his brothers. This time Lelha's horse ran
the distance, there and back, five times within the hour. The raja's
soldiers again attempted to stop Lelha's horse, but he told them that
it was in the habit of biting, so they allowed him to pass, and he
galloped off to the camp, and returning the horse to the Indarpuri
Kuri began to prepare the evening meal. When his brothers arrived
Lelha set food before them, and they ate and drank. After they had
supped they sat and talked about the wonderful horse, and its feat
that day. Lelha again enquired what they were talking about, but they
rebuked him saying, "Do not listen. It is not necessary for you to
know what we are speaking about." They all then retired for the night.
Early next morning Lelha set about preparing breakfast, and his
brothers, having partaken of it, set out for the bazaar. After their
departure Lelha gathered everything together, and hid them as before,
and then called upon Indarpuri Kuri for a horse. The horse came, and
Lelha mounted and galloped after his brothers. On overtaking them he
saluted, and then said, "Wherefore, brothers, do you stand still? Race
your horses." They replied, "It is your turn now. We have run, and our
horses are tired." Lelha then started his horse, and it ran twelve kos
there, and twelve kos back, seven times within the hour. The raja's
soldiers again attempted to capture Lelha's horse, but he prevented
them, and so returned to the camp. When he had returned the horse
to the Indarpuri Kuri he resumed his office of cook, and had supper
ready by the time his brothers returned. They sat down together, and
began to discuss the wonderful performance of the horse which had that
day done the distance seven times in one hour. Lelha again enquired,
"What is it that you are talking about, brothers?" Some one said,
"Beat him. He has no right to be listening," but another said,
"Do not beat him, he cooks our food." When the four brothers were
tired talking Lelha set supper before them, and having supped, they
lay down to sleep.
Next morning Lelha cooked the breakfast as usual, and his brothers
having partaken of it, mounted their horses, and rode off to the
bazaar. After they had left Lelha put everything out of sight, as
usual. Then he desired the Indarpuri Kuri to give him a horse, and
having mounted, he followed his brothers, and on coming near saluted
them as before, but again they failed to recognize him.
IV.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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