Page:Sagas from the Far East; or, Kalmouk and Mongolian traditionary tales.djvu/122

98 One day, now, it befell that Ânanda the painter, whom to distinguish from the other, we will call by his Tibetian name of Kun-dgah instead of by his Sanskrit name of Ânanda, appeared before the Khan, and spoke in this wise: "O Khan, thy father, born anew into the kingdom of the gods, called me thither unto him, and straightway hearing his behest, I obeyed it." As he spoke he handed to "All-protecting" the Khan, a forged strip of writing which was conceived after this manner:—

"To my son Chotolo Ssakiktschi!

"When I last parted from thee, I took my flight out of the lower life, and was born again into the kingdom of the gods. Here I have my abode in plenitude, yea, superabundance of all that I require. Only one thing is wanting. In order to complete a temple I am building, I find not one to adorn it cunning in his art like unto Ânanda our wood-carver. Wherefore, I charge thee, son Chotolo-Ssakiktschi, call unto thee Ânanda the wood-carver, and send him up hither to me. The way and means of his coming shall be explained unto thee by Kun-dgah the painter."

Such was the letter that Kun-dgah the painter, with crafty art, delivered to Kun-tschong, the Khan. Which when the Khan had read he said to him—"That the Khan, my father, is in truth born anew into the gods' kingdom is very good."

And forthwith he sent for Ânanda the wood-carver,