The Kacháris

han-nānŭi,

say-ing,

hŭsŭ-baie

hunt-ing

hŭsŭ-baie

hunt-ing

un-au

after

hā-grā

forest

zethāp-au

thicket-in

gongā

horns

nāng-nānŭi 64

stick-ing

thāp-thā-nānŭi

caught-stay-ing

thā-naise.

stay-ed.

Obāsŭ

Then

bī

he

mŭi-khō

deer-to

godo-i-au

neck-on

dīdung-zang

cord-with

khā-nānŭi

bind-ing

no-hā-lāgī

house-up-to

dīdung

string

zorai

ty-ing

zorai

ty-ing

no

house

man-fai-naise.

reach-come-did.

Beau-nŭ

Then

bīmā

mother

bīfā-i-ā

father

sŭng-naise,

ask-ed,

“nang

you

mosō

bullock

bai-nŭ

buy-to

thāng-nai-ā,

go-did-not,

hŭrŭ?”65

eh?

Obāsŭ

Then

bī

he

būng-naise,

say-did,

“be

this

dīdung-khō

string-to

bŭ-bā-nŭ,

tug-see,

zang-fŭr

you

mosō

bullock

man-gan.”

get-will.

Erŭi

Thus

han-nānŭi,

say-ing,

sā-thām

they-three

zang

together

dīdung-au

string-on

hom-nānŭi

seiz-ing

bŭ-bā-naise.

haul-ed.

Bŭ-ī

Hauling

bŭ-ī

hauling

mŭi-ā

deer

no

house

man-fai-bā;

reach-come-did;

boibŭ

they

gī-khrong-naise.

all fear-much-did.

Phāre

Then

bīmā bīfā-i-ā

mother-father

mŭi-khō

deer-to

bū-thāt-nānŭi

beat-slay-ing

s’lai-nŭ 66

exchange-to

lāgi

for

gāmī-nī

village-of

mānsŭi-nŭ

men-to

bāngan

loads

hŭ-naise.

send-did.

Be-au-nŭ

Then

gothō ābrā-i-ā

boy-foolish

“ai

mother

āfā-i-ā

father

mosō

bullock

bu-thāt-nānŭi

beat-killed-did

zābai”

ate

han-nānŭi

say-ing

mālai-nī

strangers-of

gāme

village

gāme

village

khithā-bai-naise.

say-continue-did.

Khintu

But

bī-khō

him

ābrā

foolish

nu-nānŭi

see-ing

mansŭi-frā

men

bī-nī

his

khorāng-khō

word

fathi-ā-khŭise.67

believe-not-did.

Bī-nī

There-of

unau,

after,

āji-bŭ

to-day

thā-i-ŭ

staying

kāli-bŭ

to-morrow

thā-i-ŭ,

staying,

ābrā-i-ā

fool

bāngai

somewhat

det-bŭ-nānŭi 68

big-grow-ing

gāgai-nī

himself-of

hingzau

wife

namai-nŭ

seek-to

lāgi

for

ārŭ,

more

brai-burui-nī-au

old-man old-woman

thākā

from money

bī-naise.

ask-did.

Be-au-bŭ

Thereupon

hŭ-ā

give-not

gār-ā,

escape-not,

thākā

money

zokhai-brŭi

four-fours

brai-nī-frai

old-man-from

lā-nānŭi

tak-ing

hingzau

wife

nāmai-nānŭi

seek-ing

thāng-naise.

go-did.

Thāng-ŭi

Going

thāng-ŭi

going

gāmī

village

mānsŭi-ni

men’s

dŭi

water

gathān-au

ghaut-at

zombai

hiding

thā-naise.

stay-ed.

Phāre

Then

unau

after

sāse

one

mazāng

pretty

hingzausā

girl

dŭi

water

lāng-nŭ

draw-to

fai-nai

com-ing

nu-nānŭi,

see-ing,

dŭi

water

gathān-au

ghaut-at

bī

he

dŭi-lāng-nai

water-draw-ing

hingzausā-khō

girl-to

hom-nānŭi

seiz-ing

lābō-naise.

take-did.

Phāre

Then

fai-ŭi

coming

fai-ŭi

coming

nāmā-i-au

road-on

meng-nānŭi

tired-being

bong-fāng-fāng-se-nī 69

tree-one-of

sing-au

under

zīrai-naise,

rest-ed,

ārŭ

and

mosō-halwā

bullock plough(er)

mā-se

one

lā-nānŭi,

taking,

mānsŭi

man

sāse

one

bŭ

also

be-au-nŭ

there

zirai-dangman.

resting-was.

Bī-baidi

This-way

bī-sŭr

they

zirai-bā thā-bā,

resting-staying,

hom-nai

seiz-ed

lāng-zā-nai 70

abducted

hingzau-i-ā

girl

zingāsī-nānŭi

lamenting

gāb-ŭi

cry-ing

gāb-ŭi

cry-ing

megong-dŭi-i-ā

eye-water

hā-hā-lāgi

earth-to-as far as

71

bŭhi-lāng-naise.

flow-down-did.

Bī-khō

This

nu-nānŭi

see-ing

mosō

bullock

lā-nai

leading

mansŭi-ā

man

ābrā-nŭ

fool-to

khithā-naise,

say-did,

“nang

you

be

that

hingzausā-khō

girl-to

mau

where

72

man-nai?

get-did?

Arŭ

And

nang

you

bī-khō

her

nai-nanŭi

observ-ing

lābo-dang,

take-did,

na

or

nai-i-ā-lā-bā

see-not-doing

lābo-dang?”

took?

Obā

Then

ābrā-i-ā

fool

būng-naise

say-did

“āng

I

bī-khō

her

mazāng

pretty

nu-nānŭi

see-ing

bī-sŭr-nī

them-of

dŭi-gathān-nī-frai

water-ghaut-from

thākā

rupees

zokhai-brŭi

four-fours

din-nānŭi

plac-ing

lābo-dang.”

take-did.

Obā-nŭ

Then

bī

that

buddi-grāng-ā73

wisdom-possessing-one

bung-naise,

say-did,

“nang

you

khānā

blind

dang.

were.

Be

That

hingzausā

girl

mazāng-bā-bŭ 74,

pretty-being-though,

bī-nī

her-of

megong

eyes

thai-ne-ā

two

bet-nai.

burst-are.

Nang

You

nu-ā-khŭi-nŭ?

see-not-did?

Ho,

Nay,

nŭi,

see,

dŭi-ā

water

sō-sō

rushing

bŭhi-lāng-dang.

flow-down-is.

Bī-baidī

This-kind

hingzausā-khō,

woman-to

nang

you

mā

what

khām-nŭ?”75

do-will?

Be

That

khorāng

word

khnā-nānŭi

hear-ing

ābrā-i-ā

fool

bī-nī

his

mosō

bullock

zang

with

s’lai-nŭ

change-to

namai-naise.

wish-ed.

Khintu

But

bī

that

mānsŭi-ā

man

misai-nŭ

false-ly

hŭ-nŭ

give-to

namai-i-ā.

wish-ed-not.

Theo-bŭ

Yet

embrā-brā

again and again

bī-nai-khai,

begging-because of,

“lā, le, lā,”

“take, then, take,”

han-nānŭi,

saying,

mosō-zang

bullock-with

mānsŭi-zang

mortal-with

s’lai-nānŭi,

exchang-ing,

gāgai

own

gāgai

own

mon-au

mind-in

ga-hām 76

well

man-nānŭi,

find-ing,

azang77

one-person

sā-se

one

azang

one person

sā-se

one

māmār

quickly

thāng-lai-naise.

went-away.

Be-baidi-nŭ

This-manner-in

thāng-ŭi

going

thāng-ŭi 78

going

ābrā-i-ā

fool

bong-fāng

tree

fāng-se

one

sing-au

under

burmā

goat

lā-nai

lead-ing

mānsŭi

man

sā-se

one

zo-bai

sitting

thā-nai 79

stay-ing

nu-nānŭi,

seeing,

bī-bŭ

he-too

be-au-nŭ

there-indeed

zo-naise.

sit-did.

Be-baidi

This-way

zo-bai

sit-ting

thā-bā,

stay-ing,

moso-ā

bullock

hā-su-dangman.

defecated.

Phāre

Then

bĭ

that

burmā

goat

lānai

leading

mānsŭi-a

man

bung-naise,

said

“be

that

mosō-nī

bullock’s

udu-i-ā

belly

gob-long-bai,

is burst,

arŭ

more

sān

day

sā-se 80

one

thābā

staying

be

it

thoi-sī-gan.”

die-perish-will.

Be-au-bŭ

Then

bi

that

ābrā-i-ā

fool

gomā

true

nung-nā=nŭi,

thinking,

moso-khō

bullock

bī-nī

his

burmā-zang

goat-with

s’lai-naise.

exchanged.

Be-baidi

This-way

thāng-ŭi,

going,

ārŭ

also

sā-se

one

thālit

banana

lā-nai

bearing

mānsŭi

man

lŭgŭ

meeting

man-nanŭi,

getting,

ābrā-i-ā

fool

bŭ

also

zo-dangman.

sit-did.

Khintu

But

burmā-i-ā

goat

gāngsŭ 81

grass

ukhui-nānŭi

hungering

ba-brāp

restless

bai-nai-au 82

wandering-on

bī

he

zo-nŭ

sit-to

sukhu

pleasure

man-e-khai,

get-not-because of,

burmā-khō

goat

bubā,

beat-ing,

burmā

goat

bā bā

ba-baa

han-naise.

say-did.

Obānŭ,

Then

“ese

thus

mengnāi-i-au

tired-being

āng

I

nang-khō

you

mā-brŭi

what-way

bā-gan?”

carry-shall?

han-nānŭi,

saying,

brāp-nānŭi,

angered-being

gār-nŭ 83

to get rid

lubui-bā,

wishing,

be

that

thālit

banana

lā-nai

carry-ing

mānsŭi-ā,

man

thālit-khō

bananas

ābrā-nŭ

fool-to

hŭ-nānŭi,

giv-ing,

bī

he

burmā-khō

goat

lāng-naise.

take-did.

Bī-baidi-nŭ

This-way-indeed

bī-sŭr

they

bi-ni-frai

there-from

thāng-lai-naise.84

go-away-did.

Ere-au-nŭ

There-upon

sā-se

one

mānsŭi

man

bī-nī

his

sigāng-thing

front-direction

āsī

finger

khrep-khrep

snap-snap

dām-nānŭi

sound-ing

fai-dang.

come-did.

Obā-sŭ

Then

khāthi-au

near

lŭgŭ

meeting

man-bā,

getting

ābrā-i-ā

fool

bung-naise,

said

“āng

I

burmā

goat

mā-se

one

mānī

up-to

hŭ-nānŭi,

giv-ing,

be

those

thālit-khō

bananas

lābōdang.

carried-away.

Theo-bŭ

Yet

āng-nī-au

from-me

thālit

banana (you)

bī-ŭ!”

beg!

Erŭi

So

han-nānŭi,

say-ing,

“nang

you

thālit

banana

zā-nŭ

eat-to

lubui-dang-bā,85

wish-do-if

nang-nī

your

bidyā-khō

skill

āng-nŭ

me-to

hŭ,”

give,

han-nānŭi,

say-ing,

bī

he

bī-au-nŭ

there

hurā-se

hour-one

māni

till

sŭlŭng-nānŭi,

teaching,

zenthen-ŭi

as best

hā-nānŭi,

able-being

thālit-khō

bananas

bī-nŭ

him-to

hŭ-nānŭi,

giving

āsī

finger

khrep-khrep

snap-snap

dām-nānŭi

sound-ing

thāng-naise.

depart-ed.

Thāng-ŭi

Going

thāng-ŭi,

going

mai

rice

gezer

tall

dāp-se-au

field-one-in

khī-nŭ

defecate-to

onkhāt-nānŭi

going-out

khī-nai-au

(in the process)

bī-nī

his

bidyā-khō

leaving

bau-gār-naise.

forgot.

Arŭ

And

be

that

mai-gezer-au-nŭ

rice-tall-in

gamā-bai 86

lost-is

han-nānŭi,

saying,

mai-khō

rice

themā

lice

nai-nai-baidi 87

seeking-like

nai-naise.

searched.

Be-au-nŭ

Then

mai-nī

rice-of

girimā-i-a88

owner

mai

rice

hā-bai-tha-dangman 89

was broken down

nu-nānŭi,

seeing

bī-khō

him

sŭng-naise,

asked

“nang-hā

you

be-au

there

mā

what

gamā-dang?

have lost?

Āng-nī

My

mai-fŭr-hā

rice plants

hām-ā

ruined

zo-thro-bai.”90

flattened-utterly-are.

Ābrā

Fool

bung-naise,

say-did,

“āng-hā

I

thākā

rupees

zokhai-brŭi-ni

sixteen of

bidyā

skill

man-se

one

be-au-nŭ

there

gamā-bai.

lost.

Nang-bŭ

You-too

āng-zang

me-with

namai-phā-bā,

seek-come-ing

āng

I

nang-khō

you-to

ga-hām

well

man-gan,”91

meet-will,

han-nai-khai,

saying-because-of

bī-bŭ

he-too

namai-ŭi

seeking

namai-ŭi

seeking

man-e-khai 92

get-not-because of

brāp-nānŭi,

angry-being

“nang-nī

your

khorāng-ā

tale

misā,”

false,

han-nānŭi,

saying,

āsī

fingers

dām-bā,

sounding,

“āfā,

father,

dā

now

āng

I

man-bai!”

get-have!

han-nānŭi

saying

ābrā-i-ā

fool

khāt-lāng-naise.

ran-away.

Arŭ

And

be-baidi-nŭ

that-way-exactly

thāng-ŭi

going

thāng-ŭi

going

fukuri

pond

man-se

one

man-hŭi-bā 93

meet-ing

be-au-bŭ

there-too

bī

he

khī-nānŭi,

defecating,

bī-nī

his

bidyā-khō

art

baugār-naise.

forgot.

Phāre

Then

bi

he

nāmai-e 94

seeking

nāmai-e

seeking

man-ā-khŭi.

get-not-did.

Ere-au-nŭ

There-on

sā-se

one

mansŭi

man

lŭgŭ

meeting

man-nānŭi

getting

sŭng-naise,

ask-ed

“nang-hā

you

be-au

there

ma

what

gamā-dang?”

lost-have,

hanbā,

saying,

“āfā,

father,

āng-hā

I

be-au

there

ga-hām

good

basthu

thing

man-se

one

gamā-bai;

lost;

nang-bŭ

you too

namai-bā,

seeking,

āng

I

gahām

well

man-gō,”

meet-will,

bung-nai-au 95

saying

bī-bŭ

he-too

bī-zang

him-with

nāmai-fai-naise,

search-come-did,

ārŭ

and

un-au

then

nāmai-ŭi

seeking

nāmai-ŭi

seeking

hā-bru

earth-mud

zang

with

musunlā-musunlī

hugger-mugger

zā-nānŭi,

becoming

theo-bŭ

yet

man-e-khai,

get-not-because of

bī

that

mānsŭi-ā

man

brāp-nānŭi

angry-being

āsi

fingers

dām-naise.

sounded.

Obā

Then

bī,

he,

“O āfā,

O father,

dā-sŭ,

now-inded

āng

I

be-khō

it

man-bai,”

got-have,

han-nānŭi,

saying,

rong

happy

zā-nānŭi,

becoming,

no-hā-lāgi

house-up-to

khrep-khrep

snap-snap

dām-nānŭi,

sounding

no

house

man-hŭi-naise.

went and reached.

Bī-khō

Him

nu-nānŭi

seeing

brai

old man

burui-ā

old woman

mini-sŭ-naise.

laugh-much-did.

Aglā

First

bī-khō

him

sinai96

recognition

man-ā-khŭi-man,

get-not-did

unau

after

sŭng-nānŭi

ask-ing

mithī-naise.

knew.

Ārŭ

And

thākā-fŭr

rupees

mā

what

khām-khŭ?”

did?

“han-bā,

saying

bung-naise,

(he) said,

“āng

I

hingzau

girl

sā-se

one

lābō-dangman.

take-did.

Be-hā

Her

megon

eyes

thai-ne

two

bŭ

also

bet-nai.

were burst.

Bī-nī-khai

Therefore

ārŭ

also

mosō

bullock

s’lai-naise.

exchanged.

Bī-bŭ

It-too

āng-khō

me

bā-nŭ

to carry

thin-nai-khai

ordering

brāp-nānŭi,

being angry

thālit

bananas

s’lai-naise.

exchanged.

Thālit-khō

Bananas

nu-nānŭi,

seeing

sā-se

one

mānsui-ā

man

bī-nai-khai,

begging-because

be

of that

mansŭi-nī-frai

man from

be

this

bidyā-khō

skill

sŭlŭng-nānŭi

learning

thālit

bananas

hŭ-nānŭi

giving

lābo-dāng.

took.

Ārŭ

And

āng

I

mā

what

khām-nŭ

to do

nāng-go?”

was obliged?”

Zap-bai!

Ended!

FREE TRANSLATIONThe story of the simpleton

There was once an old man and an old woman, and they had an only son. One day he begged rupees of the old people to buy a bullock, but they, seeing the lad was an innocent, refused his request. However, on his importuning them, they gave him sixteen rupees. On which he marched off to purchase his bullock, and finding a fine one where three roads met, he put down his money on the road and led the beast away, but as he was going, he tied his new acquisition to a branch, and, as he was looking another way, it escaped. On which he started in search of it, and seeing a stag, hunted that, until by chance its horns stuck in a thicket. Thereon he tied a cord round its neck, and joining other cords to the first, finally reached his home. On which his father and mother asked, “Did not you set out to buy a bullock?” “To be sure I did,” he replied, “and if you help me to pull this cord, you will see the bullock I have bought.” So they all three tugged, and presently the stag appeared, kicking and struggling, to the great fear of the old people. They killed it, nevertheless, and sent its flesh round to the adjacent villages for sale. After which the boy went about saying that the villagers had eaten cow’s flesh. But seeing him to be a fool, no one paid much attention to what he said.

Another day, some time after, when the silly boy was rather bigger, he asked for money again to buy a wife with. And again, overcome by his obstinacy, they gave him sixteen rupees, taking which he set out in search of a maiden, and, after going some distance, took up his station at a place where the villagers draw water from the river. Presently a pretty girl came tripping down to get water, on which, as before, he put down his money and seized and carried off the girl. And since she was plump, he soon grew tired and rested under a tree. Presently a man leading a plough ox came that way, and he too joined the party and sat down. But the girl sat weeping and lamenting and crying her eyes out. Seeing which, the man said to the simpleton, “Where did you get that girl? And did you have a good look at her before you took her?” “Yes, I did,” said the lad, “I saw that she was a pretty girl, so I put down sixteen rupees at the village watering place and carried her off.” On which the cunning fellow said, “You must be blind, my friend; she may be a pretty girl, but both her eyes are burst. Did you not see that? Why, look at them now. The water is running from them in streams. What are you going to do with a girl like that?”