4 BULLETIN 1057, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



history of the Buddhas and their Kahandas, relating to the kalaw tree, 

 which were kindly translated by Mr. A. Nicholas, deputy revenue 

 collector of the Upper Chindwin district, Mawlaik. 



This legend relates that in the days of yore, before the time of 

 Buddha, there reigned a king in northern India by the name of 

 Ok-sa-ga-rit. This king had five sons and five daughters. These 

 five princes exiled themselves, and their sisters volunteered to do the 

 same, owing to the naming as heir apparent of a younger (sixth) 

 prince, a son by a second queen. The story relates that Piya, the 

 eldest sister of these five princes, who was much honored and 

 revered, became a leper. The brothers and sisters, for fear of wound- 

 ing her feelings, took her into the jungle, as if going on a pleasure 

 trip, and when they arrived at a certain place where there was a 

 cave they left her there with all kinds of provisions. The cave, 

 which had a very narrow entrance, was well protected. 



At the same time Eama, once the king of Benares, was living 

 in the jungles under the following circumstances: When king of 

 Benares, he became afflicted with leprosy, and although his court 

 physicians did their best they failed to relieve him from his suffer- 

 ings or to improve his condition. He decided to abdicate the throne 

 in favor of his son and, leaving the palace, went into the jungles 

 and existed entirely on herbs and roots, but especially on the fruits 

 and leaves of the kalaw tree. After a time he was completely cured 

 and felt better and stronger than when he lived in the palace sur- 

 rounded with luxury. He lived in the hollow of a large tree, which 

 he converted into a home. 



One day a tiger, when prowling near Piya's cave, was attracted 

 by the odor of a human being. It made frantic efforts to gain en- 

 trance to the cave. Piya was so horrified that she gave a piercing 

 scream. Eama heard the cry from his hollow tree and noted the 

 direction whence it came. Next day he went in search of the per- 

 son who gave the agonizing cry. He discovered the cave and 

 shouted, "Who lives in the cave?" Piya, hearing a human voice, 

 replied and after the usual greetings explained her circumstances. 

 He asked her to come out, but she refused, being shy and modest. 

 So Rama forced his way into the cave and carried her off to his hol- 

 low tree. He then made her eat the fruits, roots, and leaves of the 

 kalaw tree which had wrought such a wonderful cure for him. She 

 was soon cured, and Eama took Piya unto himself as his wife. 

 Piya gave birth to twins sixteen times, bearing 32 sons. A hunter 

 from Benares one day came to this part of the jungle and recognized 

 Eama as the former king of Benares. Seeing so many young princes, 

 the hunter asked who they were. Eama explained the circumstances, 

 and the hunter on his return to Benares related the whole storyi 



