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82 SANTAL FOLK-TALES,

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.

Lelha's brothers as they sailed along came to a certain ghat at which a raja was bathing. He was raja of the country through which they were passing. He demanded from Lelha's brothers to know what they had in their boat. They replied, "We have hiras and Tnanis with us." Then the raja said, "Shew them to me. You may be thieves." They replied " No, they are inside these Sinjo fruits." The raja said, "Break one, I wish to see what they are like." So the brothers broke one, but nothing was found in it. Then the raja called his soldiers, and ordered them to bind the four brothers. So the soldiers seized and bound them, and carried them off to prison. Just then Lelha's boat arrived. He was in time to see his brothers pass within the prison doors. Having seen the four brothers in safe custody the raja returned to the bathing ghat, and seeing Lelha he demanded to know what he had in his boat. Lelha answered, "We have hiras and manis as our cargo." The raja then said, " Shew them to me, I would fain look upon them." Lelha said " You wish to see hiras and manis without any trouble to yourself. If I show you them, what will you give me in return ? There are hiras and manis in this Sinjo fruit." The raja replied, " Those who came before you deceived me. I have no doubt, but that you will do so also." Lelha said, " What will you give me ? Make an offer, and I shall shew you them at once." The raja replied, " I have one daughter, her I will give to you, and along with her an estate, if there are hiras and munis in that Sinjo fruit, and if there are none in it, I will keep you prisoner all your lifetime." Lelha immediately broke one of the Sinjo fruits, and five hiras and munis rolled out. When the raja saw it he was confounded, but what could he do ? According to his promise, he gave him his daughter and an estate.

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