continued to think of him day and night, during the eight puhurs, and sixty four ghurees; whether asleep or awake, sitting, standing, walking, eating, drinking or engaged in amusement; and celebrated his good qualities with songs. She was in the habit of rising very early, and having bathed, and made a mud image of the goddess Parbuttee, she put upon it the mixture roolee, rice and flowers; and preparing perfumes, lamps and consecrated food, propitiated the goddess with joined hands, and downcast looks, and pronounced these words in presence of the image, “Take pity on me, O Parbuttee! give me the lord of the Judoos as a husband, and remove all my troubles.” In this manner Rookmunee passed her life. One day she was amusing herself with her companions, when the Raja Bheekmuk, beholding her, began to think and say to himself, “She is now of an age to be married; if we do not marry her to some one quickly, people will laugh. There is a saying, that it is useless for a man, in whose house there is a grown-up unmarried daughter, to offer gifts, or perform good acts, or be engaged in prayers, or religious penance; because he obtains no benefit from the performance of such acts, until he shall have discharged the debt due to his daughter.” Having thus reflected, the Raja Bheekmuk came into his court; and, having summoned all his ministers and relations said, “Brothers! my daughter is marriageable, it is necessary to look out for a bridegroom for her, of good family, a mine of good qualities, an abode of beauty and of a good disposition.” On hearing these words, they mentioned the families, virtues, personal appearance and power of the Rajas of many different countries; but Raja Bheekmuk did not approve of any of them. Then his eldest son, named Rookum, began to say, “Father! Sissoopal, the Raja of the city of Chunderee, is very powerful, and in every respect our equal, betroth Rookmunee to him, and gain reputation in the world.”