Year: 1871

iiock near his own village and although
IT was almost noon, his wife had not yet
brought him his breakfast He was afraid
to leave his sheep to go in quest of it. lest
some accident should befall them. But his
hunger could not be appeascd; and upon
looking round, he spied a Talaiyari, or
village hind, who had come to cut grass
Tor his COW near q neighboring spring.
lie went to call him, though very relnc-
family, because he knew that, though those .
servants OF the village are set as watch
men to prevent theft. yet they are great
thieves themselves. He hailed him, how
ever, and requested him Just to give an
eye to his flock for the short time he should
be absent, and that he would not forget
him when he returned from breakfast.


But the man was as deaf as himself ;and
mistaking his intentions, he angrily asked
the shepherd, "What right have you to
take this grass, which | have had the
your sheep may fatten? Go about thy
business, and let me alone!' The deaf
shepard observed the repulsive gesture of
the hind, which he took for a signal of
acquiescence in his request, and therefore
briskly ran towards the village, fully de-
termined to give his wife good lesson
for her neglect. But when he approached
his house. he saw her before the door,
rolling in violent pain. brought on by
eating over night too great quantity of
raw green peas. Her sad condition. and
the necessity he was under to provide
breakfast for himself, detained the shep-
herd longer than he wished while the :
small confidence he had in the person with
whom he had left his sheep accelerated
his return to the utmost.


Overioyed to see his flock peacably feed
ing near the spot where he left them, he
counted them over; and, finding thatthere
was not single sheep missing: He is
an honest fellow" quoth he, this Talai-
yari; the very jewel of his race! l prom.
ised him reward, and he shall have it"
There was a lame beast in the flock, well
enough in other respects. which he hoisted
on his shoulders. and carrying to the place
where the hind was, ard courteously Of
fered him the mutton, saying


You have taken great care Of my sheep
during my absence Take this one for
your trouble" W


II - says the deaf hind IL break your
sleeps leg I'll be hanged if went near
your flock since you have been gone, OF
stirred from the place where | now ap."


Yes" says the shepherd, sit is good
and fat mutton. and will be a treat to you,
and your family or friends


''Have l not told thee" replied the Tai
ayari in a rage, THAT never went near thy
sheep9 And yet thou will accuse me Of
breaking that ones leg. Get about thy
business, or will give thee a good beat
ing!" ssss


And. by his gestures, he seemed deter
mined to put his threat into execution.
The astonished shepherd got into a pas
sion also, and assumed a position of def
ance. They were just proceeding to
blows, when man on horseback came
up. To him they both appealed, to decide
the dispute between them and the shep-
herd, laying hold of the bride. requested
the horsenan to alight, just moment,
and to settle the difference between him
and the beggarly Talaiyari. 81 have of
tered him Il present of Sheep" says he,
'because | thought he had done me SER
vice; and, in requital, he will knock me
down" The villager was at the same
time prefering his complaint, that the
shepherd would accuse him OF breaking
the leg of sheep, when he had never been
near his flock.


The horseman, to whom they appealed,
happened to be as deaf us they !; and did
not understand a word that either of them
said. But, seeing them both addressing
him with vehemence, he made a sign for
them to listen to him, and then frankly
told them that he confessed the horse he
rode on was not his own. at was stray
that | found on the road,n quoth he, land
being at II loss, l mounted him for the
sake of expedition. If he be yours take
him. If not, pray let me proceed, as |
am really in great haste"


The shepherd and the village hind, each
imagining that the horseman had decided
n favor of the other, became more vio-
lent than ever; both accusing him whom
they had taken for their judge of partially.


At this crisis, there happened to come
up and aged Brahman. Instantly they
all crowded around him shepherd, Tal-
aiyari, and horseman; each claiming
favor. All spoke together; every one
man had lost his hearing also. II
know" said he, 'you want to compel me
to return home to herr (meaning his wife)
'but do you know her character? In all
the legions OF the wicked ones, defy
you to find one that is her equal in wick
edness. Since the time first bought her





will be in my power to expiate in thirty
generations. | am going on a pilgrimage
to kasi (Benares), where will wash my
self from the innumerable crimes I have
been led into from the hour in which had
the misfortune.to make her my wife, Then
will wear out the rest of my days on aims
in strange land.n


While they were all four venting their
n v al La
the horse-stealer preceived some people
advancing towards them with great
speed. Fearing they might be the owners
of the beast, he dismounted and took to
his heels. The shepherd, seeing it was
growing late went to look afeer his flock;
pouring out maledctions,ash he trudged on
all arbitrators, and bitterly complaining
that all justice had departed from the earth.
Then he hethought himself of snake that
crossed his path in the morning, as he
came out of the.sheepfold. and which might