1879.] or a History of Hamir, prince of BantTiambor. 193 



All was profound silence. There was none but a carpenter at work 

 on the outside who overheard this prophecy. He thought that a very 

 fortunate mother the widow would be, and so if he could seduce her and 

 take her away from her parents, he would indeed be very happy. In the 

 disguise of a merchant he came every day to the temple. Many days after, 

 having availed himself of an opportunity, he said, " Virtuous woman, you 

 are blessed, for you walk in God. If it please you, my rath (carriage) is 

 at your service. " The widow thanked him for his kind attention, and, 

 believing in the honesty of his purpose, accepted the favour. Many days 

 passed away. The carpenter said, " Merchant's daughter, a pious and 

 devoted visitor of temples should appear before her gods in her best dress, 

 and wearing ornaments." The widow not anticipating any evil, com- 

 menced doing so. By and by he gained her confidence so much that he 

 succeeded by cunning in taking her to the city of Ujjain in Malwa. He 

 made her a proposal of marriage, which she rejected with scorn. " You 

 have brought me," said she, " away from my parents ; very good, but I 

 will never consent to your marrying me." When the lady's jewels and 

 ornaments, the means of their support, had been all sold, the carpenter ad- 

 dressed her — " Merchant's daughter, do you remember the sound which 

 you had the good fortune to hear while in the temple of Parasnath ?" 



The widow replied, "Yes, I do." Immediately after, she fell on her 

 knees and prayed to Parasnath, when lo ! by the command of the god she gave 

 birth to twins of very handsome appearance. One of them was named 

 Basanta Pal, and the other Tej Pal. Accidentally the mother found a very 

 large pan of gold and diamonds buried under ground. Fortune smiled on 

 her from that moment, but she did not let the carpenter see her babes. 

 One day at the eager and humble request of the man, the twins were shown 

 to him, but alas ! poor creature ! the very sight of them brought on instant 

 death. 



When the twin-brothers grew up to boyhood, they insisted upon their 

 mother telling them, although she was very loth to do so, where their father 

 was. As soon as they had the knowledge of their miraculous birth, they 

 thought themselves to be the favourites of fortune and set about their 

 business with redoubled energy. On attaining majority they, with all their 

 treasure and establishment, removed to Dehli. There they began to carry 

 on mercantile transactions, and, by giving very handsome nazzars, rose to 

 the notice of his majesty the_ emperor. But all other Sharaojis of the 

 city looked upon them as aliens,- and therefore did not allow them to take 

 part in their social festivities. However at a meeting of that sect on Grinar, 

 they were, on the testimony of the Sharaojis of Ujjain, received into caste. 

 It was proposed to build two temples on that memorable spot. 



