Santal (South Asian people) -- Folklore; Santali literature -- Translations into English; Tales -- India
After a sail of a few hours they entered the territory of another
raja, and came upon his bathing ghat. The raja was bathing there at
the time, and the boat passing, he enquired what her cargo was. The
brothers answered, "We have hiras and manis on board." The raja said,
"I would see them." They replied, "They are in the boat following
us." The raja was displeased with their answer, and ordered them to
be seized as vagrants.
Lelha's boat came alongside the bathing ghat just as his four brothers
were led off to prison, and the raja seeing it, asked Lelha what
cargo he carried. Lelha replied, "Our cargo is hiras and manis." The
raja begged Lelha to shew them to him, but he refused saying, "What
will you give for a sight of them? Promise something, and you can
see them." The raja said, "Of a truth, if you can shew me hiras and
manis I will give you my daughter. I have one, a virgin, her I will
give you, and I will also confer upon you an estate."
Then Lelha, seizing a Sinjo fruit, broke it, and out rolled five
hiras and manis, which when the raja saw he marvelled greatly. He
honourably fulfilled his engagement, and Lelha's marriage with his
daughter was celebrated forthwith.
The wedding over Lelha was conducted to the bath, and afterwards
invited to a banquet; but he declined saying, "So long as you detain
my brothers in confinement, I cannot partake of your hospitality." So
they were brought to the palace, and their feet bathed, and then
ushered into the banqueting room. After they were seated they began
to whisper to each other, "What caste do these people belong to,
with whom he expects us to eat? Does he intend to make us break our
caste?" Lelha hearing them, said, "Not so, my brothers. This is my
father-in-law's house." Thus were their doubts removed, and they ate
and drank with much pleasure.
VIII.
The journey homewards was resumed in the morning, the boats in the
same order as previously.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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