Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/147

Rh nurse, travelled the infant daughter of Sirikap, whose name was Koklán. She it was who in after years, when she grew to woman's estate, became his beautiful but ill-fated consort.

It is said by some that when Rájá Rasálu left Kôt Bhitaur he built himself a strong castle on Chittah, having subdued the whole of the country round. This castle is now known by the name of Ránithrod, on account of a certain legend which is connected with it. In the lofty stronghold of Ránithrod he took up his abode, having strengthened it well with walls and bastions all round, but most of his followers, it is said, returned to their homes when their services were no longer required.

When the child Koklán was growing up, he ordered that the old custom of his people should be unobserved, and that she should be fed with flesh meat every day. Her education was entrusted to the ancient nurse who had accompanied her from Kôt Bhitaur, and who was quite devoted to her. No other woman but herself was allowed to attend her, and no other woman but herself was permitted even to enter the walls of the fortress. When she became ill and was likely to die, the King said to her, "I have as much respect and love for you as for my own mother, and wherever it is your wish that your body should be burnt, it shall be done." But she said, "Do not burn my body, merely throw it into the river Sen" (Indus). And when the day of her death came her wishes were duly observed.

Rájá Rasálu was passionately fond of hunting. Leaving the child in the charge of the nurse, he was in the habit of visiting the jungle every day with bows and arrows to chase the wild deer. Rejoicing in his vast strength, he indulged in the sport either wholly alone, or attended by but few of his retinue. In the evening he returned with his spoil to the castle, when the feast was spread and his minstrels sang of his exploits and of the exploits of Bikrámájit, as he sat with the little princess on his divan, and fed her with venison. Her life was lonely with only a nurse to attend to her, but she had two constant companions in a parrot and a mina, who like all birds in those days had the gift of speech. With them she used to converse, and to them she communicated her little joys and sorrows.

So passed the lives of King and princess, until the old nurse died, and the little girl had grown into a woman, and had become Rasálu's