SriLL IN BORNEO. 135 



Seeing in this another attack from his unhappy fate, Rama 

 hiid aside his crown and retired to the forest with his wife Sita 

 and her brother Latchoumana. 



One day while the latter was out hunting, he cut off the ears 

 from the six heads of Sauparna, sister of the ten-headed giant 

 Havana, King of Ceylon. This monarch took his revenge by 

 carrying off Sita one fine afternoon, when her husband and 

 brother were not near to protect her, and immuring her in a 

 dismal dungeon. 



Rama was inconsolable at this climax to his misfortunes, and 

 could think of nothing but how he should rescue his beloved 

 Avife. To do this an army was necessary, and he applied for aid 

 to the young man in whose favor he had given up his throne, 

 but in vain. 



it was now that the apes came to the rescue. Their chief, 

 Annouma, called them together, and put it to vote whether Rama, 

 the incarnation of Yishnu, deserted by gods and men, was not a 

 fit object for sympathy and assistance from them. There was but 

 one sentiment in the meeting, and a messenger was despatched 

 to Ceylon to see what had become of Sita. The extraordinary 

 agility and strength of the ape made him a peculiarly suitable 

 spy, and he succeeded in finding the imprisoned lady, when 

 most men would undoubtedly have failed. When he liad reached 

 the castle in which she was confined, he climbed to the top of a 

 tree near her dungeon, and when he saw the fair Sita come on 

 to the terrace to enjoy the fresh evening air, he began to sing 

 her this song : — 



" Of what is the lovely Sita thinkiug, 

 When she looks afar, across the forest, — 

 She, the daughter of the Earth and Plutus, 

 Towards the country of the Sunlight?" 



