Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese Vol II. - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/152

 imparts to him at the same time much useful knowledge, and advises him to pursue his journey towards the East.

On the far side of a river which he crosses, he finds a deserted town, where he makes the acquaintance of Ni Keumaya, the mother of a gògasi (gěrgasi), a giant of the forest, who devours both men and beasts. Fortunately the giant is at the moment out hunting, and Banta Beuransah wins the favour of his mother to such an extent that she hides him, and after her son's return draws from the latter all the secret lore that is likely to aid our traveller in attaining his object. According to the giant seven hairs from his head will provide an infallible charm against the dangers of the road. While the gògasi sleeps, the woman cuts off the hairs and gives them to Beuransah who pursues his journey.

On a mountain he finds the soul of the gògasi in the form of a bird, guarded by two princesses. He makes himself master of this soul; the gògasi feels this and hastens to the place where his soul is kept, but is here slain by Beuransah. Beuransah leaves the princesses behind him on the mountain, intending to fetch them away on his return journey.

He now attaches to himself a grurenda (garuda = griffin) which has had 98 of its young devoured by a gluttonous naza; our hero kills this dragon and thus saves the last two survivors of its brood. The geureuda in gratitude carries him safely over the sea of fire which separates him from the land of his vision, and awaits his further disposal.

Presently he arrives at the court of Gulita Ebeuram and gains possession of both the princess and her bird.

For the present he takes the bird only and journeys home, fetching en passant the princesses who guarded the giant's soul. On his way he meets his two brothers, now reduced to poverty. He gives them rich presents but they, moved by envy, plot against him and cast him into a well. Then they take the bird and the princesses to their father and pretend that it is they who have reached the object of the quest, while their younger brother has disappeared. Soon however their evil conscience drives them into the forest, where they gradually grow hairy like the beasts of the field.

Beuransah is discovered by a rich travelling merchant, delivered from his perilous position and adopted as a son. After the death of his bene-