Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 3, 1892.djvu/533

 Rh Saiyid's for saying prayers; for everyone who is ill gets a Saiyid to say prayers for him, and if the Saiyid gets this woman the Saiyids will be claiming possession of everyone who gets well when they say prayers! The carpenter and the goldsmith were only practising their trades, and have no rights; but the Darzi, who clothed her, he has won the woman, for it is the bridegroom who gives clothes to the bride. I award her to him."

VII.

. Once upon a time there lived a king who had three wives. One day the king became very angry with one of his wives, and said, "I will not have you for my wife," and he ordered her to be turned out and abandoned. They carry her away, and left her there in the wilderness, and she had to work for her living. Shortly afterwards she gave birth there to a son. When this boy grew up, he asked his mother who his father was, and his mother told him that the king was his father, and everything that had happened. Then the lad said to his mother: "Let us build a dwelling-place by the side of the highway, and let us work for our living and make our home there."

At that time the king made a proclamation as follows: "Is there any man skilful enough to build a palace for me with the sky as a foundation?" The lad said to his mother: "The king has lost his wits; I will go and get some money out of him, and bring it to you." So he went to the king—"Give me the money, and I'll build you the palace." The king gave him some money. The lad said: "In one month have all your materials collected, and then I'll build your palace for you" The lad came home to his mother, and this is what he did. Whenever anyone passed along the high-road, he would go along with him and enter into conversation with him, and then come home again. This