Page:Folk-lore of the Telugus.djvu/52

 XIX.

THE MUSSALMAN AND THE ROBBER. There lived at Rajahmundry a Mussalman whose house was robbed one night. After careful search he traced some of the lost articles to the house of a person, whom he suspected for more reasons than one to be the rogue, and took him therefore before the Judge. The Judge asked the Mussalman if he had any positive proof that the prisoner was the person who had robbed his house. He answered in the negative; whereupon the Judge told him that he must dismiss the case, as he was strictly forbidden by the law to enquire into cases, where there were no eye-witnesses to the fact. On hearing this, the Mussalman removed one of his slipppers and began to beat the rogue. The Judge, in a great passion, asked him what the matter was. He told him that it was because he had not communicated to him beforehand his intention of robbing his house, in order that he