IN a certain city a man was stricken by a scarcity of food to eat, and he went to another country. Having gone there, during the time while he was residing in a village, the village men asked, “What sooth can you tell ?” 1 He said, “I can tell one sooth; to do that sooth I want Jak-tree gum, Coconut oil, and Euphorbia milk” (the milky sap which exudes from cuts or bruises in the bark). Thereupon the men having collected those things that he mentioned, gave them to him. Then he went and warmed these things [making birdlime] and placed [limed] twigs, and catching birds and coming with them, he gave them daily, two by two at each house, and thus ate. The man’s name was Appu; his village was Kurulu-gama (Birds’ village). While he was continuing to eat in this manner, the men of that village started to go to Puttalam, carrying produce for sale. That man also said, “I also must go.” Then the men of the village asked, “You have nothing ; what will you take ?” Thereupon this one tying up a pingo load of chaff and coconut husks, goes with the men. Then the men who were going on that journey, having come down to the high road, set off to go. While they were going, the men having said [in fun] “Vedarāla” (Doctor) to that man, he kept the name. Having gone very far, the Vedarāla, telling the men who went with him to wait on the road, placed his pingo (carrying-stick) on the road, and went into an open [Page 180] place in the jungle. While going along in it, when he looked about, a yoke of cattle were entangled in the bushes. Then this Vedarāla having gone near the yoke of cattle, looked at the letter marks branded on them, and having come back and taken up the pingo load, while they were going on it became night. This party having halted on the road near a village, sent the Vedarāla to get a resting-place for the night. Having gone to a house in the village, when he asked for it the house men said, “What giving of resting-places is there for us ! We are lamenting in sorrow for the difficulty we are in. Our yoke of cattle are missing.” The Vedarāla said, “Now then, what have we to do with your losing a yoke of cattle ? Give us a resting-place.” “If you want one, look there ! There is the shed, come and stay there,” they said. Then the Vedarāla having come back, says to the people of the party, “There is a shed indeed. Stay if you like ; go on, if you want to go,” he said. So this party having come to the shed sat down. The people of the party said to the Vedarāla, “Vedarāla, why are you staying looking about ? Night is coming on. We must seek a little firewood and water,” they spoke together. The house persons having heard these words, said, “What is this, that you are saying ‘Vedarāla’ ? Does he know sooth and the like ?” they asked. 2 The persons of the party said without a reason for it (nika-mata), “To a certain extent he can tell matters of sooth.” “If so, don’t be delayed on account of anything you want. We will bring an