R109789, 3Apr53. NUNEZ, Mrs. NEMOURS H. The raja's captive.

SEE Nila-kantha, of Raja-mangalam.

Hulda Niebuhr (A); 26Mar59; R233435. NILA-KANTHA, OF RAJA-MANGALAM.

General Raja Sir Amar Singh lives in a sort of glorified English villa.

There was once a Raja's son who announced that he would marry no woman who would not allow him to beat her every morning and evening.

The Raja's servants hunted high and low in vain for a bride who would consent to these terms, at long last, they found a maiden who agreed to be beaten morning and evening if the prince would marry her.

When they had all come the Raja said that he would now decide who should have all the wealth which had been taken from the prince: he produced a cat and said that the person towards whom the cat jumped should have all the wealth.

When the old Raja reached his son-in-law's house they welcomed him and washed his feet and offered him refreshments; and when he had eaten, he asked his son-in-law to take him out for a stroll.

When the year was up the Jogi came and saw the boys and he said that he would return when they could walk; and when they could run about, he came again, and asked whether the Raja would fulfil his promise.

When these heard the sound of the drum and saw the two men carrying the bed they ran up to see what it was and told the carriers to put It down that they might look inside; so the bed was put on the ground and the Raja's son peeped inside the curtain, but as he caught the smell he jumped back and the Dewan's son asked what was the matter and he said "it stinks: it is dung."

Once upon a time there was a Raja who had two sons and after their father's death they divided the kingdom between them.

So the villagers went out with beds and carried the wounded boys home; then they assembled and resolved to go and punish the Raja, so they went to him and asked what he meant by killing their children.

"I am sorry," said the Raja: "I admit that I have done wrong, but if you will forgive me this time, I will undertake to cure them in a minute and make them as well as ever; go and fetch them here.

The Raja's wife, being still in a passion, asserted that it was quite true.

The Raja thought it wrong to refuse the request, and went out into the world with his wife and his two young children, a beggar.

When they reached the village where the merchant lived, the Rani left the Raja with the two children to cook some dinner and went to the merchant's house to beg for some clothes; but when the merchant saw her he fell in love with her and shut her up and would not let her go.

The dewan had to take what comfort he could from this promise, and when the appointed day arrived, his daughter brought a dumb shepherd whom they employed and bade her father take him to the Raja.

The Raja could not rest until he had found out the meaning of the dream, so he sent for his younger wife and her two sons and consulted them.

The people stayed watching all day till evening and then dispersed, That night all the booths and shelters which had been erected were changed into houses of gold; and when he saw this, the Raja left his younger wife and her children and went and lived with his first wife.

When the six sons of the elder wife grew up, they used to jeer at their mongoose brother and his mother, so the Raja sent his second wife to live in a separate house.

The Raja was pleased with Lelsing for this and declared that, in spite of his shape, he was a man and a Raja.

Then the Raja went and fetched his son-in-law to the palace, but the caterpillar was not pleased and said to his wife; "They treat me very well n

But the Raja had him bound with ropes, and then questioned him as to why he had told a false story.

A few days after the wedding Sit sat outside the palace with his wife, and did not come in though it was evening, and the Raja asked him why he was sitting outside in the dew.

In the end he was seized with a desire to go and see his old mother, and, his wife consenting to go with him, they set off to his father's home; when his brothers saw him come, they were filled with fear and made him Raja over them and they became his servants and he lived in prosperity for the rest of his life.