AT a certain city two men were cutting jungle, it is said. Having cut it for many days, one man said, “Friend, I will go and bring millet 1 to sow in this chena clearing; you continue to cut the jungle.” The other man said “Hā” (Yes), and that man went to seek millet. Having gone to a village, he went along asking the way to a house where there was millet. After he had gone there it became night, so he remained in a shed at the house. A lucky hour had been fixed by astrology for cutting the hair [for the first time] of a child at the house, on the following day after that. Having told at the hand of his wife to put rice in water [to clean it], and to cook cakes from it, the man of the house that evening went to the watch-hut in his chena. The woman having pounded the rice and cooked cakes, selected the best cakes and put them in the rice mortar in order to give them to another man. The millet trader in the shed remained there looking on. Afterwards the man who went to the watch hut returned, and when he was eating the cakes said, “Give a couple of cakes from them to that millet trader.” Then the woman having selected burnt, very burnt ones, and given them to the millet trader, the trader saying, “I cannot bite these,” put the cakes on the others in the rice mortar, and pounded them. The woman scowled at the millet trader, but because her husband was present she was unable to say anything, [Page 73] so she remained silent. The millet trader, having pounded all the cakes and eaten, tied up the surplus ones and put them aside. After that, the man went again to the watch hut. Then that woman quickly put a gill of rice in water, and having pounded it into flour and very hurriedly cooked cakes, placed them in the house, and lay down in it. The millet trader awoke, and while he was there looking about, saw a man coming. Arising quickly, he came to the open space in front of the house and coughed. Then the man, thinking “Perhaps the man is at the house,” went back again. After that, the millet trader went inside the house. That woman taking those cakes gave them in the dark to the millet trader, and said, “Andō ! When I was cooking cakes I put the best cakes in the rice mortar in order to give them to you. Then, after being in the watch hut he (the husband) came, and while eating the cakes said to me, ‘ Give a couple of cakes to that millet trader'; so I gave them. After that, the millet trader, that Roḍiyā, having put the cakes in the rice mortar that was full of the best cakes, pounded them and ate. Then I again put a gill of rice into water, and pounded it into flour, saying that you will come; and only just now finished cooking.” The millet trader said, “Hā. It is good,” and ate. Afterwards the woman said, “Now then, are we not cutting the child’s hair to-morrow ? Now, what will you give on account of it ?” The millet trader said, “What have I got to give ? When coming for millet I only brought four tuttu.” 2 Then the woman,