Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/215

Rh are not able to obtain them you will be killed; and also, there are a thousand cows, and the mothers and the calves are exactly alike, but if you cannot distinguish which are the mothers you will be killed. Besides that, we three daughters and our mother are alike in appearance, but if you cannot tell which is our mother, then father will kill you; but if, on the contrary, Andrianòro, you can distinguish all these things, then father will give me to you for a wife, and you shall live and not die. So, therefore, I beseech of you, Andrianòro, do not go, but remain here; besides that, your sister will be desolate if you leave her, my lord."

Then said Andrianòro, "I will nevertheless go with you, my dear one." So he went and bade farewell to his sister, who wept profusely. Then, just before going away, Andrianòro went into the fields and called thus to all the beasts and the birds in the fields, "O, animals with black armpits! (?) O, animals with black armpits! help me, for I am in sore distress!" So all the birds and beasts came to him, and Andrianòro killed oxen to feed the beasts and the birds. And he recounted to them what had befallen him (that is, the things he was to do in the skies, and the tests by which he was to know them); so the beasts and birds gave him encouragement, that they would accomplish the things that troubled him. So Andrianòro and his wife went up to the sky. And when they arrived at the gate of heaven Andrianòro wept for sorrow about his sister, and called out, "O, this earth below us! this spacious earth! the earth where my dear Rafàravàvy lives!" Then his sister also wept, and replied to her brother's voice thus:—"O, Andrianòro, do not forget me, thy relative!" And just as the gate of heaven was really about to be opened he was bidden again by his wife to return, for his difficulties were just at hand. "Besides, I grieve for thee, my dear," said she, "so do thou return." Then her father in the sky heard her words, and it thundered fearfully. And when Andrianòro would still not return his wife gave him this advice: "When you come in to father and mother do not be persuaded to advance first, but remain there at the place where the fire-wood is stored, for they will kill you." "Very well," said he. And when he came in his father-in-law said, "Come forward, child." Then the thunderbolt flashed out. But Andrianòro was breathed upon for some time by his wife, and so he still lived. "Advance yonder to the golden chair," said his father-in-law. So he went into that part of the house. "Give him rice in my plate," said his father-in-law