Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstra85861922roya).pdf/95

 thunder, picks from his teeth with a log chunks of food so big that they kill cat, goose or fowl by their impact. Then he sings so that the beasts in the forest flee. He asks his captive if her liver is big enough for him to eat. Instructed beforehand by her lover, she declares it will never grow big enough unless he gives her the livers of 100 animals to eat. The demon bids her kill the lice in his hair. With pincers and hammer she kills centipedes and scorpions which the demon has mistaken for lice; and eating fried beans and maize she pretends the noise she makes is the cracking of the eggs. of the lice. The Raksasa and his wife go to get the livers of 100 animals but all have fled far from his singing. Marakarma digs a pit near the demon's hut, and sets it with caltrops. He piles up rubbish and lights an ijok fuse which will take three days to burn. He and his bride escape with the demon's property in a passing ship. Three days later the Raksasa seeing flames rushes home, falls into the pit and is killed.

Lustful for his wife and riches, the captain of the ship pushes Marakarma into the sea. A shark, asked by Marakarma to put him out of his misery, does obeisance and carries the prince in his belly in the wake of the ship till it reaches Pelinggam Chahaya. The shark sprawls on the beach by the jetty of the Fairy God- mother (Ninek Kĕbayan). An eagle instructs the old lady to put rice-grass (daun padi) on the shark's belly, whereupon Marakarma steps out. Ninek Kebayan tells him of the country, its ruler and the royal family. Marakarma guesses that Princess Unfolding Palm-Blossom must be his sister. IIe arranges cut flowers in posies. Ninek Kebayan sells one to Marakarma's wife on the ship, containing the hero's ring and a letter graved on flower-petals, bidding her go to the palace and tell Princess Unfolding Palm- Blossom of their straits. (The first posy she sold, Ninek Ke- bayan pretended was arranged by herself. Chahaya Khirani wants to be taught the art. To keep the old lady in countenance Mara- karma sends a green fly with her on her next visit which buzzes over the bunch and settles wherever flowers should be stuck!)

Chahaya Khirani is invited to the palace, shows her husband's ring and tells of his plight. The king summons all people to a farewell feast to the wicked ship's captain. Miraculously pro- vided with a steed a prince's attire and 40 followers, by means of a magic stone (gĕmale) given him by a bota, Marakarma goes to the feast. The householder who first cast him into the sea and the ship's captain are both executed (salangkan).

Transported to Puspa Sari by the help of a magic stone, the hero finds his father's kingdom desolate forest. He meets his mother gathering firewood and stays with his parents in their forest hut. He reveals himself and prays that Puspa Sari be restored. His prayer is heard. He returns to Pelinggam Chahaya and fetches his sister and her husband and his own wife. Ninek Ke- bayan is twitted with her inability to walk and advised to get a