Folk-tales of Kashmir / by the Rev. J. Hinton Knowles.

  • Knowles, James Hinton.
Date:
1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Folk-tales of Kashmir / by the Rev. J. Hinton Knowles. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    47/532 (page 31)
    THE CROW-GIRL. 31 When the king inspected the rooms of the six wives, he was much pleased with them, but when he came to the crow-gild’s room he was overcome with astonishment and delight. Henceforth , he made her his chief rdni, and seemed to forget all the rest. This special notice from the king increased the hatred and jealousy of the other wives. They were wicked enough before ; but now, maddened by the king’s pre- ference for the seventh wife, they plotted to bring about her speedy death. 'They soon found opportunity for accomplishing their wickedness. One day they were all going to tlie river to bathe, when it was decided to push the crow-girl queen into the water, and to inform the king that she had been accidentally drowned. Accord- ingly, when they reached a deep part of the river, they shoved the woman off the bank into the water. The king’s grief was intense when he heard the sad news. For a long time he gave up all business, shut himself in his room, and would not see any one. Fate, however, had not decreed the death of the rani. She was not drowned, as everybody thought. Hear to the part of the river where she fell, there happened to be a large tree growing out of an invisible island. She had floated to this island and climbed to the top of the tree, where she was constantly fed by her kind friend the crow. One day some weeks afterwards. His Majesty chanced to go for an airing in his boat by the way of this tree. The crow-girl saw him, and shouting the words, ‘‘ The king unjustly exposed me to danger.^ Come, 0 beloved, come here,” sli^ discovered herself to him. On seeing his beloved rdni again, the king’s joy knew no bounds. He immediately took her into the boat and carried her to the palace. There she told him all that had occurred, and when His Majesty heard the truth of the matter, he at once slave orders for the execution of the other wdves.^ 2 ‘‘The king unjustly bound me ^ Compare variant in Old Deccan in a net,” literally. Days, pp 79~93*