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several, the women espied him mounted on his cat with his bow and arrows in his hand, and believing him to be an elf from the forest fled in terror to the city. Going to the raja they said "Oh raja, come and see. Some one is on the tank embankment. We do not know who or what he is, but he is only a span high." The raja then summoned his soldiers, and commanded them to take their bows and arrows, and go and shoot him whoever he was. The soldiers went within range, but although they shot away all their arrows, they failed to hit him. So returning to the raja they said, " He cannot be shot." Hearing this the raja became angry, and calling for his bow and aiTows, went to the tank and began to shoot at Bitaram, but although he perse-vered until his right side ached with drawing the bow, he could not hit him.

When he desisted, Bitaram called out "Are you exhausted ?" The raja answered " Yes." Then said Bitaram " It is my turn now," and taking the leaf from off the mouth of the basket called to the bees, " Go into the battle, bees." The bees issued from the basket like a black rope, and stung the raja and those who were with him. No way of escape offering, the raja called out to Bitaram, " Call off your bees, and I will give you the half of my kingdom and my daughter, and I will also set at liberty your father and uncles." Bitaram gathered the bees into the basket, and after his father and uncles had been released, took them back to the ant hill from whence he had brought them. On his return he wedded the princess and received half of her father's kingdom.

Bitaram and his wife lived happily together, and every thing they took in hand prospered, so that before long they were richer than the king himself One great source of Bitaram's wealth was a cow which the princess had brought him as part' of her dowry. Being envious of their good fortune, the raja and his sons resolved to kill the cow, and thus obtain possession