Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/351

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FOLK-TALES OF INDIA. 343

questioned him as the others had previously done. "The king is known to be a sage. Formerly the various fruits in this garden were sweet, but have now become insipid and nauseous. Ask the king the cause of this," &c.

Further on again, close to the entrance of the city, some brahman students in a hall saw him, and said, ^* Where are you going, Gamawi?" " To the king," he replied. " Well then go and take a * case' from us. Formerly every passage we committed to memory was clear to us, but now it does not remain in our minds but runs out like water in a leaky pitcher ; neither is it intelligible or clear to us. Ask the king the reason of this," &c.

Gamawi with these fourteen questions came before the Idng. The king was then sitting in the court of justice.

The owner of the bullocks taking hold of Gamawi drew near the king. The king saw and recognised him and thought, '* This person was a minister of the late king, and has taken me up in his arms. Where, I wonder, has he been living all this time ? " Said he, " 0, Gamarii, where have you been living all this time ? We have seen nothing of you for a long while. What's brought you here now ? " " The fact is, sire, after your late father departed to heaven I went into the country and there lived by farming. Then this person here, on account of an accusation respecting his bullocks, delivered me over to a king's messenger, and dragged me before you." " I suppose you would not have come had you not been brought here by force ? Your being dragged here is all very fine, but I must be allowed to see him. Where is the man ?" *' Here he is sire ! "

" Is what we hear true that you gave Gamawi in charge to a king's messenger ? " " It's quite true, sire." ^' Why did you do so ?'* mawi ? " " Well, sire, just listen to me," and Gamam told the king the whole affair. Having heard it, the king asked the owner of the bullocks whether he saw the bullocks when they entered his house. He replied that he did not see them. " What, have you not before heard, I pray, people call me * King Mirror Face ' ? Speak truly." " I saw them, sire. " 0, Gamawi, because you did not restore the bullocks formally to their owner you must pay for the bullocks ;
 * ' He did not return me my two bullocks." " Is that true, Ga-