The Queen of the Rock House

THE QUEEN OF THE ROCK HOUSE A certain Gamarala had two daughters and two sons. During the time when they were [there], the elder sister and the younger sister…

THE QUEEN OF THE ROCK HOUSE

A certain Gamarala had two daughters and two sons. During the time when they were [there], the elder sister and the younger sister go to the pansala to make flower offerings. Having gone, the younger sister when making the flower offering wishes, "May I receive wealth," she says. The elder sister when making the flower offering wished, "May I succeed in eating the bodies of the relatives whom there are of mine." The younger sister does not mention the form in which she wishes this wish.

When there is a little time [gone] in this manner, having spoken about a marriage for the big daughter, the wedding was [made] ready. It having taken place, they went calling her to another village. Having gone, after a little time had gone the woman began to eat the men of that city. Having eaten and eaten them, after the men of the city were finished she ate also the husband who married her. Belonging to him a female child was born. Keeping the child, without anyone of the city being with the woman she was alone.

Then her father came. That day night, having given him amply to eat and drink,--there was a house adjoining the house in which she is; in the direction of the house in which she is, between that house and this house the wall was closed with coconut leaves,--in the house she allowed her father who came, to sleep at night. Having given it she said, "Father, at this village is much small-pox. The men of this village and my husband were lost [by it]. Having been lost, [while] so much time was passing you did not remember me. It happened that you did not want me; you have wanted only younger sister. It is good. What am I to do?" Having said [this] she wept a weeping.

Thereupon the old man says, "No, daughter, I have been ill. Because of it, indeed, I did not succeed in coming," he said.

In that manner having said false words, having been weeping and weeping, she told him to sleep in the house beyond the house in which she is, and having spread mats gave them. Having given them she said, "Father, don't you be afraid; I also, so long a time, remained alone, indeed, with this child," she said.

This woman also, having come away, lay down. Having been lying down, after her father went to sleep this woman brought a stick, and having beaten and killed him, during that night ate that man also.

Owing to that man's being missing, his son came. Him, also, in that very way she ate. His younger brother also came; him, also, she ate in that manner.

Owing to the three persons, the persons who went, not coming, both [the father's] wife and younger daughter went. When they went, says this woman, "Ane! Mother, the men of this city, and father who came from there also, and both younger brothers and all, died. Keeping this girl, I am alone in this village. From anyone of you, at any time whatever, there will not be assistance [for me]. I said you will come; since yesterday I have been expecting you," and weeping she went in front of her mother and younger sister.

Having gone and talked, she allowed the two persons to sit in another house. Having allowed them to sit in it, she made ready and gave food and drink, and having allowed those two persons to lie down, she told them to go to sleep. She also having gone lay down.

What though she allowed this mother and daughter to sleep! In the mind of that younger sister of hers is that formerly wished word when making the flower offering. Owing to that circumstance she remained during that day and night without sleep. Her mother, snoring and snoring, was sleeping well.

Having heard the snoring, this human-flesh-eating woman, taking also the men-killing party, came in order to kill and eat these two persons. When [they were] coming there, that girl cried out, "Elder sister, a dog came," she cried.

Then this girl having gone into the house, and having been in the house, at the time of her coming half closing the door, said, "Ci, Ci, dog!" and came crying out. In this way [the elder sister] came two or three times. What of her coming! She was unable to eat them.

In this manner the girl having been awake, at the watch when it becomes light came calling her mother, and they began to run away. At the time when they were going this human-flesh-eating Rakshasi awoke. Having awoke, when she looked she got to know that these two persons have gone. Ascertaining it, that woman, learning that they had done this very trick, began to run [after them]. At the time when she was going running she met with these two persons. When meeting with them that girl cried out. While [she was] coming, when the big woman looked [back], having seen that this one is running [after them] she became stone there.

That girl began to run [off alone]. That Rakshasi having eaten the point of the stone which her mother had become, when she looked that girl was running off. Because she was unable to eat the stone she bounded on the girl's path. When she was going bounding [on it], at the root of an Indi (wild date) tree the door of a rock house opened. After that, this Princess crept into the rock house [and the door closed again]. After that, the Rakshasi who became a demon went away.

Then, when a King, the Ministers, and gentlemen (mahattayo) came walking, [the King] said a four-line verse. When he was saying it, this Princess who was in the rock house at the root of the Indi tree also said a four-line verse. Then anger having come to the King, he said, "There! Who is the person who said that four-line verse? Look and seek," he said.

Thereupon, when the party sought and looked, anyone you like was not there. The party having gone back, and come to the King, told him, "O Lord, Your Majesty, we sought and looked everywhere; we indeed are unable to find her," they said.

After that, the King said yet a four-line verse. To that also the Princess, being in the rock, said a four-line verse. At that time, also, he told the Ministers to seek; on that occasion, too, they could not find her. On that occasion, also, having come to the King, they said, "O Lord, Your Majesty, we this time also looked; we indeed are unable to find her," they said.

After that, the King having gone near the spot where she said the four-line verse, said yet also a four-line verse. When [he was] saying it, having been very near under the ground she said a four-line verse. Then the King asks, "Did a Yaka, or a Yaksani, or a Deity, or a Devatawa (Godling) say that four-line verse? You must inform me to-day," the King said.

Then the Princess who is in the rock house at the root of the Indi tree, said, "I am not a Yaka, and not a Deity, and not a Devatawa; I am a human being. Who speaks outside there I cannot ascertain. Because of it you must tell me who it is," the Princess who is in the rock house at the root of the Indi tree said.

Then the King says, "I am not a Yaka. Me indeed they call the King of this city," the King said.

"If so, is the truth the contrary, is the truth the contrary?" three times she asked.

The King also assured her of his kingly state. After that the stone door of the rock house at the root of the Indi tree opened. After it opened, having seen that the Queen was there, possessing a figure endowed with much beauty, to the degree that he was unable to look [at her], the King was minded to marry her. Having been so minded, placing her on the back of the tusk elephant he went to the city at which he stayed.

Having gone [there, and married her], when a little time was going a child was conceived (uppannaya) in the Queen's womb. When it was conceived, because the city in which she stayed was a solitary city (tani nuwara) in that country there was no midwife-mother. Because of it, when going through the middle of the jungle in order to proceed to yet [another] city, [she and the King arrived at an abandoned city].

Having arrived, this King walked around the city, and when he looked about, from one house, only, he saw that smoke goes. Having seen it he went to the house, and when he looked a woman and the woman's little girl were [there]. After that, this woman saw that the King is going. Having seen him she asked at the King's hand, "Lord, where is Your Majesty going?" she asked.

Then the King said, "The Queen of the rock house at the root of the Indi tree having married me, she is with a child. For it there being no midwife, I came to seek one," the King said.

Then the Rakshasa-goblin got into her mind, "What of my younger sister's being hidden that day indeed! To-day I shall eat her." Thinking [this], this woman-Rakshasi said, "Maharaja, I well know midwifery. Regarding that indeed, why will you go to another place and become wearied?" she said.

The King having said, "It is good," on hearing her word went summoning her.

On the very day she went, in the night pains seized the Queen of the rock house at the root of the Indi tree. She went to the place where they were seizing her. When she went that Queen got to know that she came in order to eat her. Although ascertaining it she did not mention it to the King.

Well then, [the Rakshasi] having come, during the night she bore [a child]. After she bore [the child] that Rakshasi ate all the after-birth (waedu-mas) that was there. The Queen did not tell that also to the King.

Well then, having finished (nimadu wela) at the parturition house (waedu-ge[yi]n), during that night [the Queen] went to sleep. After she went to sleep, lifting up the child and the Queen with the bed on which they were sleeping, this Rakshasi during the night began to go away. When going this Queen awoke. Having awoke, when going under trees she broke and broke dead sticks, and put them into the bed for weight to be caused (bara-gaehenda). On her placing them [there], when the bed is being made heavy the Rakshasi says, "It is good; make it heavy. What of my being unable to eat you, you having crept into the rock house at the root of the Indi tree!" Saying and saying, "To-day indeed I shall eat you," disputing and disputing with her she went along.

When she was going thus, a banyan branch had bent down to the path; on the banyan branch this Queen hung. This Rakshasi went on, carrying simply the bed. Having gone, having put the bed on the ground, when she looked the Queen was not on the bed.

Afterwards she came bounding again very near this banyan tree. This one ascertained that unless [the Queen] goes near the banyan tree, she is unable to go by another place. Ascertaining it, and having gone on and on among the branches and among the leaves in the tree, saying and saying, "I will eat thee, I will eat thee," she began to walk about. Although she is walking about that Queen is not visible through the power of the resolution of the Gods.

Then, on the morning of the following day, when [the King] looked this Queen is not [present]. Afterwards the King, together with the Ministers, for the purpose of seeking the Queen having entered the jungle forest wilderness, when going away to seek her, in the midst of the forest, near a leafy banyan tree they heard a sound of a human voice, "I will eat thee, I will eat thee."

When they look what affair this is, the King's Queen and the child are in the tree. That Rakshasi having said [to herself] that this King will cut her down, ran off through fear.

The King asked the royal Queen, "By what means came you here?" he asked.

Then the Queen said, "The midwife-mother came lifting my child and me with the bed, in order to eat me."

After that, the King having taken the Queen and gone, and having sent her to the palace, made a bonfire (lit., fire-heap) in the midst of the wilderness, and set fire to it. Having set fire to it, when the smoke was going that Rakshasi having walked [there] asked, "Regarding what circumstance is [this done]?" she asked.

When she was asking the King said, "The Queen of the rock house at the root of the Indi tree having died, we are making the tomb for her relics (da sohon)," he said.

As soon as he says it, having said, "Ane! If I did not eat a little flesh from my younger sister to-day, what am I living for?" she sprang into the blazing heap; having sprung [into it] she died. The King after that, together with the Queen, remained in happiness.

Because through fear on the day when the stone door at the root of the Indi tree opened, she sprang into the house, and having been there was married to the King, she kept the name, "The Queen of the Rock House at the root of the Indi tree."