Santal (South Asian people) -- Folklore; Santali literature -- Translations into English; Tales -- India
A short distance from where he reached the ground, he found a door,
which was guarded by an elephant bound by the foot to a stake. To
him he threw a bundle of grass and passed on. At the next door he
found a tiger, likewise chained, and as he approached, it opened its
jaws as if to devour him. To it, he gave a goat, and was allowed to
pass. At the third door was a dog. He threw a shoe to it, and when
the dog was engaged biting it, he passed through. Then he saw the hira
sparkling upon the bosom of the sleeping Indarpuri Kuri. Going near,
he snatched it up, and fled. The dog, however, barred his exit but
he threw the other shoe to it, and passed on. The tiger had devoured
the goat he had given to it, and was now alert. To it he gave the
other goat, and hurried on. The elephant then opposed him, but the
remaining bundle of grass was sufficient to divert his attention,
and he passed through the last door. Then violently shaking the rope
his brothers speedily hauled him up.
Then they went to their boat, and rowed to another part of the island,
where the Sinjo tree grew. They all climbed the tree, but Lelha plucked
the five fruits on the branch to the South, while his brothers plucked
a large number from the North side.
They then returned to their boat and rowed back to the place from
which they had started. From there they went to the house of Lelha's
bride. When she heard of their arrival she ordered refreshments to be
prepared for them. Her servants also all came, and gave Lelha and his
brothers oil, and sent them to bathe. On their return from bathing,
their feet were washed by servants, and they were then taken into
the house.
After they were seated Lelha's brothers began to whisper to each
other, saying, "We do not know of what caste these people are, to
whose house he has brought us to eat food. He will cause us to lose
caste." Lelha heard what they were saying, and in explanation said,
"Not so, brothers. This is my wife's house." They replied, "It is all
right then." So they ate and drank heartily, and afterwards prepared
to return home.
VI.
The journey was to be by boat. Lelha sent his brothers on ahead in one
boat, and he and his wife followed in another. There was a distance
of two or three kos between the boats.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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