The Kacháris

On hearing that, the lad wanted to exchange the girl for the plough ox, and the man cunningly pretended to be unwilling, but was finally persuaded by the simpleton’s importunacy, and said, “There, take it, and begone.” So the exchange was effected, and each quickly went his own way, mightily pleased with his bargain.

After going some way, the boy met a man with a goat. This man too sat down. After a while the ox eased itself, and the man with the goat said, “That beast’s belly is burst, and in a day or two it will die.” The simpleton, believing every word he said, exchanged his ox for the goat, and went his way. Presently he met a man carrying a bunch of bananas, and sat down beside him. But the goat was hungry for grass and kept wandering about and crying “Ba! ba!” so that his master got no peace. Now the word “bā” in Kachári means “Carry me on your back.” So the boy was vexed, and crying “How shall I carry you on my back when I am so tired?” exchanged the goat for the bunch of bananas. And again each went his way.

By chance there came a man that way snapping his fingers. And he asked for the bananas. But the simpleton said, “I got those bananas in exchange for a goat, and you ask me for them! However, if you really want to eat the fruit, teach me the art of snapping the fingers, and you shall have them.” After an hour’s teaching, he had learned the difficult art, more or less, and, giving up the bananas, departed snapping his fingers.

Presently he came to a fine field of rice, and there forgot his new art. Fancying he had lost it in the rice, he began searching for it in the crop as women search for lice in one another’s hair, and the rice-field was all trodden down. And then the owner of the field came up and asked, “What are you looking for there?” The simpleton said, “I have lost something for which I gave sixteen rupees. If you will join me in my search, I shall be greatly obliged.” So the man searched too, and the crop suffered greatly. But finding nothing, the man, in pure vexation, snapped his fingers. On which the lad, crying, “That is just what I lost!” danced away gaily.

Soon after he paused on the bank of a pond, and again forgot his art, and began wading about in the mud looking for it. And a man asked him, as before, what he had lost. So he replied, “Something for which I gave sixteen rupees.” And the man joined him in the search, and both became covered with mud from head to foot. And, since they found nothing, the man grew angry, and snapped his fingers. On which the boy cried in joy, “Good sir, that is what I lost!” and danced away to his home. And when his old parents saw him covered with mud, they burst out laughing, and, until they heard his voice, did not know who he was. And when they asked what he had done with his money, he explained that he had bought a girl, whom he had exchanged for an ox, which he gave in exchange for a goat, which angered him by ordering him to carry it on his back, so that he exchanged it for a bunch of bananas, which he gave in exchange for the art of snapping his fingers. “And what else did you expect me to do?” said the simpleton! And that’s all!

II. Mŭkhrā ārŭ sessā-nī khorāngThe tale of the monkey and the hare

Mā-se

One

sessā

hare

ārŭ

and

mŭkhrā

monkey

zang

together

fisikhī 97

friendship

man.

was.

Bī-sŭr

They

sā-nŭi

two

zang

together

ozai-nŭ98

ever

lŭgŭ se

together

thā-i-ŭ,

stayed,

lŭgŭ se

together

zā-i-ŭ,

ate,

ārŭ

and

lŭgŭ se99

together

thā-baā-bai-i-ŭ.

wandered about.

Obāsu

Then

sān-se

day-one

sā-se

one

Darrang-ārŭi

Darrang-ite

mānsŭi

man

goe

betel

thālit

banana

lā-nānŭi,

bringing,

ālāsī

feast

zā-nū

to eat

thāng-nai

going

nām-au

on road

lŭgŭ

meeting

man-nānŭi,

obtaining,

bī-sŭr

they

rai-lai-naise,100

speaking-exchanged,

“be

this

mānsŭi-nī

man’s

goe

betel

thālit-fŭr-khō

bananas

zā-nŭ

to eat

lāgi

for

zang-fŭr

we

buddi

scheme

man-se

one

khām-nŭ

to make

nāng-go,”

must,

han-nānŭi,

saying,

sessā-khō

hare

nāmau

on road

thā-nŭ

to stay

thin-nānŭi,

sending,

mŭkhrā-i-ā

monkey

hā-grā-i-au

forest in

hākhmānai

hidden

thā-naise.

stay-ed.

Phāre

Then

mansŭi-a

man

man-fai-bā,

reaching,

sessā-khō

hare-to

nu-nānŭi,

seeing,

bī-bān

load

din-nānŭi,

placing,

hŭ-sŭ-naise.

hunted.

Hŭ-sŭ-bā,

Hunting,

mŭkhrā-i-ā

monkey

hāgrā-nī-frai

forest-from

māmār

quickly

on-khāt-nānŭi,

emerging,

thālit-fŭr-khō

bananas

lā-nānŭi,

taking,

bong-fāng-au

in tree

gā-khŭ-hŭi-naise.101

clambered.

Ārŭ

And

“sessā

“hare

fai-gan”

will come”

han-nānŭi,

saying,

thālit

bananas

goe-fŭr-khō

betel-nuts

māmār

quickly

zā-grŭ-naise.

eat-gobbled.

Arŭ

And

thālit

banana

bigur

skins

bŭā

only

sessā-nŭ

for hare

din-naise.

placed.

Emphāre

Then

unau

after

sessā-khō

hare-to

mānsŭi-ā

the man

hom-nŭ

to seize

hā-i-ā-khŭise

was-not-able

ārŭ

and

un-au

after

no-i-au 102

to house

thāng-phā-phin-naise.103

go-away-back-did.

Obāsŭ

Then

sessā-i-ā

hare

gābzri-ŭi

shouting

gabzri-ŭi

shouting

thāng-nānŭi,

going,

fisikhī-khō

friend

lŭgŭ

meeting

man-hŭi-nānŭi,

obtaining,

gur

molasses

thālit

bananas

bī-bā,

on begging,

thālit

banana

bigur

skins

bŭā

only

hŭ-naise.

gave.

Bī-nī-khai

Therefore

sessā-i-ā

hare

brāp-nānŭi,

being angry,

“be-khō

to him

bāngai

some

dukhu

trouble

hŭgan,”

will give

mon-au

in mind

nung-nānŭi,

thinking,

thāso-bāre 104

Kachhu plants

sing-au

under

thā-hŭi-naise.

went and stayed.

Un-au

After

mŭkhrā-i-ā

monkey

bong-fāng-nī-frai

from tree

on-khāt-nānŭi,

descending,

“sikhī-lŭi,

oh, friend,

sikhī-lŭi!”

oh friend,

han-ŭi

saying

han-ŭi,

saying,

gābzrī

shouting

gābzrī

shouting

thāng-bā,

going,

sessā-i-ā

hare

brāp-nā-nŭi

being angry

bung-naise,

said,

“mā-thŭ105

what’s this

sikhī

“friend

sikhī

friend,”

lŭi? 45

eh?

Āng

I

be-au-nŭ

here

rāzā-nī

king’s

khuser106

sugar-cane

ne-fai-dang.

am come to watch.

Nang-nŭ

You

āng-khō

of me

mā-nŭ

what

nāng-go?”

want?

Obā-sŭ

Then

mŭkhrā-i-ā

monkey

nu-zā-hŭi-

going and

nānŭi 107

looking

bung-naise,

said,

“he

oh,

sikhī,

friend,

khuser-khō

sugar-cane

āng-nŭ

to me

tho-se

one bit

hŭ,

give,

hera!

do!

Bese

How

gathāu

sweet

āng

I

zā-nai

eating

nī,”

see,

han-bā,

saying,

sessā

hare

bung-naise,

said,

“Āng

I

nang-nŭ

to you

hŭ-nŭ

to give

hā-i-ā.

am not able.

Rāzā

King

khnā-bā

on hearing

āng-khō

me

bu-gan.”

will beat.

Theo-bŭ,

However

bī

he

embrā-brā

again and again

bi-nai-khai,

because of begging,

“zā,

eat,

lŭi,

there,

zā,108

eat,

āng

I

nang-zang

with you

hā-liā,”

am not able,

han-nānŭi,

saying,

zā-nŭ

to eat

hŭ-naise.

gave.

Phāre

Then

bī

he

zā-nānŭi,

eating,

sālā-i-au

on tongue

man-bā,

catching,

“sikhī,

friend,

āng

I

thoi-naise,”

am killed,

han-nānŭi,

saying,

babrāp-bai-bā,

wandering distractedly,

sessā

hare

bung-naise,

said,

“nang

you

gagai-nŭ

your own

dukhu

trouble

man-dang.

procured.

Āng

I

dā

now

nang-khō

to you

mā

what

khām-gan?”

shall do?

han-nānŭi,

saying,

bere-jothā-nī

hornets of

bāhā

nest

sing-au

under

thā-hŭi-naise.

went and stayed.

Mŭkhrā-bŭ

Monkey-too

un

behind

un

behind

gabzrī-nānŭi

shouting

thāng-nānŭi,

going,

ārŭ

also

nu-zā-hŭi-nai-sŭi-lā-i-ŭ.109

went and watched him with care.

“Sikhī,

Friend,

nang

you

mā

what

khām-dang?”

are doing?

bung-bā,

on saying,

sessā

hare

khithā-naise,

said,

“āng

I

rāzā-nī

king’s

zothā

drum

ne-dang,”

am guarding,

han-bā,

saying,

“Sikhī,

friend,

āng-nŭ

to me

bāngai

a little

dām-nŭ

to play

hŭ,

give,

herā!”

do!

Sessā-i-ā

Hare

bung-naise,

said,

“ŭh!

oh!

āng

I

hā-i-ā,

cannot,

herā;

truly,

rāzā

king

khnā-bā

on hearing

āng-khō

me

bu-thāt-gan,”

beating will kill,

bung-bā bŭ,

saying even,

embrā-brā

again and again

“āng

I

lāsui-sŭ

very lightly

dām-gan,

will play,

herā,”

really,

han-nānŭi,

saying,

bere

hornets’

bāhā-khō

nest

ākhai-phāt-ne

hand-palms-two

zang

with

bu-zāp-naise.

beat and broke.

Obānŭ

Then

bere-frā

hornets

mukhang,110

face,

megon,

eyes,

modom,53

body,

gāsenŭ

all

ot-phop-bā

stinging-hurting

mŭkhrā-i-ā

monkey

gāp-khrau

howling

gāp-si

yelling

ba-brāp-bai-naise.111

wandered about.

Obānia

Then

sessā-i-ā

monkey

bung-naise,

said,

“āng

I

dŭ-hŭi-nŭ

repeatedly

nang-nŭ

to you

khithā-dangman,

said,

theobŭ

yet

nang

you

khorāng

word

lā-i-ā.

accepted-not

Āng

I

mā

what

khām-gan?”

shall do?

han-nānŭi,

say-ing,

ārŭ

and

dāp-se-au

field-one-in

zibo-gowāl-nī

a kind of snake

khathi-au

near

thā-hŭi-naise.

went and stayed.

Āzang-hā

Accordingly

mŭkhrā

monkey

bŭ

too

khī-thu

behind

khī-thu

behind

thāng-nānŭi

going

bung-naise,

said,

“ārŭ

and

be-au

there

lai

eh?

nang

you

mā

what

khām-dang,

are doing,

hera?”

say?

Sessā

Hare

bung-naise,

said,

“āng

I

rāzā-lŭng-hā-nī 112

king-people-of

sāmā-lauthi

sceptre

ne-dang,

am watching,

herā!”

sir!

bung-bā,

saying,

“Sikhī,

friend,

āng-nŭ-bŭ

to me to

hŭ,

give,

herā!

do!

āng

I

bāngai

a little

dāng-nai-ni.”

wield and see.

Bī

He

“hŭ-ā”

“not give”

han-bā-bŭ

saying-even

embrā-brā

again and again

dāng-nai-nānŭi

wielding

be-au-bŭ

then-also

bī

he

zībo-zang

snake-by

ot-zā-naise.113

bitten be-came.

Bī-nī-frai

There-from

sessā

hare

thāng-nānŭi

go-ing

photo-bāre-au

marsh-in

thā-hŭi-naise.

went and stayed.

Mŭkhrā

Monkey

bŭ

also

gābzrī

shouting

gābzrī

shouting

thāng-nānŭi,

go-ing

ārŭ

and

lŭgŭ

meeting

lā-hŭi-nānŭi

going and getting

sessā-khō

hare-to

sŭng-bā,

asking,

bī

he

bung-naise,

said,

“be-khō-nŭ

This

rāzā-nī

king’s

dolā

palanquin

han-nānŭi

saying

bung-ŭ.”

call.

Mŭkhrā

Monkey

bung-naise,

said,

“Sikhī,

friend,

āng

I

bāngai

a little

uthī-nai

ascending

nī,

see,

herā!”

please!

bung-bā,

saying,

“ŭh!

oh!

āng

I

hŭ-nŭ

to give

hā-i-ā.

am not able.

Rāzā

King

khnā-bā

hearing

āng-khō

to me

mā

what

bung-gan?

will say?

Nang

You

mā-bā

what sort

ābrā

fool

mānsŭi,

man,

hera!

eh!

Khorāng

Word

khithā-bā-bŭ

saying-even

khnā-song-ā,”

not heed,

bung-bā-bŭ,

saying-even,

mŭkhrā-i-ā,

momkey,

“nong-ā,

no, no,

herā

oh

sikhī,

friend,

do-se

one bit

bŭā

only

uthī-gan,”

will ascend,

han-nānŭi,

saying,

photo-bāre-au

on marsh

bāt-drum-bā,

jumping,

godo-hā-lāgi

neck-up too

thrup

flop

thāng-naise.

stuck.

Obāsŭ

Then

sessā

hare

khithā-naise,

said,

“duhui

“now

thālit

bananas

zā-nānŭi

eating

bigur

skin

hŭ-nai-ā,

giving-(person),

be-nŭ,

here,

herā

oh

sikhī,

friend,

nang

you,

be-au-nŭ

there-even

thā-dŭ!

stop!

Āng

I

nang-khō

you

khulum-bai!

pay you my reverence!

Āng

I

thāng-naise,”

am going,

han-nānŭi,

saying,

bī

he

mŭkhrā-khō

the monkey

be-au-nŭ

there

gār-lai-naise.

left behind.

Obasā

Then

unau

after

bī-thing

that-direction

gāndā

rhinoceros

mā-se

one

fai-nai

coming

nu-bā,

seeing,

bī-khō

to him

mukhrā-i-ā

monkey

dikhāng-nŭ

to extricate

thing-dangman.

was ordering.

Gāndā-i-ā

Rhinoceros

bung-naise,

said,

“āng-hā

I

ukhui-sŭi-dang

hungry-very-am

ārŭ

and

dŭi-gāng-sŭi-dang;

water-thirsty-very-am;

āng

I

nang-khō

you

dikhāng-nŭ

to extricate

hā-i-ā,”

am not able,

han-nānŭi,

saying,

bī

he

thāng-naise.

went away.

Bī-nī

There

un-au

after

ārŭ

also

moesŭ

buffalo

mā-se

one

fai-nai-au,

on coming,

bī-khō-bŭ

to him also

khithā-dangman.

said.

Bī-bŭ

He also

khnā-song-ā-lā-bā

not attending

blot

pop!

thāng-naise.

went away.

Boi-nŭ-khri

Than him

khī-zap-au 114

tail-end-at

mosā

tiger

mā-se

one

ukhui-sŭ-nānŭi

hungry-very-being

bī-thing

that-direction

thāng-dangman.

was going.

Mŭkhrā

Monkey

nu-nānŭi

seeing

bung-naise,

said,

“he

Oh

āfā,

father,

nang

you

āng-khō

to me

be

this

dukhu-nī-frai

trouble-from

dikhāng-ā-bā

if (you) extricate

arŭ

other

raubo

anyone

dikhāng-lia,”

extricate will not,

“han-nānŭi,

saying,

gahām-ŭi

well

khulum-nŭ

to worship

hom-naise.

began.

Theo-bŭ

Still

bī,

he,

“āng

I

nang-khō

you

dikhāng-nānŭi

extricating

mā

what

man-gan?”

shall get?

han-nānŭi,

saying,

khozo-ne-sŭ

paces-two-about

thāng-bā,

going

mŭkhrā-i-ā

monkey

bung-naise,

said,

“āfā,

father,

nang

you

āng-khō

me

be

this

photo-bāre-nī-frai

marsh-from

dikhāng-nānŭi

extricating

hā-bru-fŭr-khō

muddiness (lit. “muds”)

su-srā-nānŭi,

cleansing

āng-khō

me

nang

you

zā,”

eat,

han-bā, bī,

saying he

ukhui-sŭ-nai-khai

hungriness-because-of

be

that

khorāng-au

word

khnā-song-nānŭi,

hearkening

bī-khō

to him

bung-naise,

said

“āng

I

nang-khō

you

zā-nŭ

to eat

mon

mind

gŭi-ā,

have not,

manāthŭ,

however,

be-baidi

that sort

dukhu-au

trouble-in

gaglai-nai-khō

fallen (person) to

dikhāng-ā-bā,

extricate-not-if,

āng-hā

I

gahām

good

zā-gan.

will-be.

Theo-bŭ

However

gaigai-nŭ

yourself

zāsī-nānŭi

beseeching

hŭnai-i-au,

on giving

āng

I

zā-nŭ

to eat

hāgo,”

am able,

han-nānŭi,

saying,

bī-nī

his

lānzai-khō

tail-

phol-au

in marsh

hot-bā,115

sending,

mŭkhrā-i-ā

momkey

bī-nī

his

lānzai-au

hom-ba,

seizing

dikhāng-bŭ-naise.

dragged him out.

Mŭkhrā

Monkey

khithā-naise,

said

“āfā,

Father,

nang

you

āng-khō

me

dā-niā

now

modom-fŭr-khō

body (plural)

gahām-ŭi

well

su-srā,

dry,

emphare

after

rān-bā

drying

zā,”

eat,

han-nānŭi

saying

sān-dung-au

sun-shine-in

do-se

one

zo-bai

bit sitting

thā-dangman.

remained.

Ere-au-nŭ

Then

mosā-i-ā

tiger

phāt-se-thing

one other direction

nai-ne-au,

on looking

bī

he

bong-fāng-au

in tree

fāt-drāp

helter-skelter

gā-khŭ-naise.

clambered.

Mosā

Tiger

be-khō

him

nu-nānŭi,

seeing,

brāp-nānŭi,

angry-being,

bongfāng

tree

guri-au-nŭ

root at

sān-ne

days-two

sān-thām

days-three

ne-bai

watch-ing

thā-naise.

stay-ed.

Be-baidi

This-way

thā-nānŭi,

stay-ing,

khugā

jaws

sī-nānŭi,

gap-ing

hāthai

teeth

hāzīzī

display

khām-nānŭi,

making

thoi-thī-nānŭi

dead-pretend-ing

thā-naise,

stay-ed,