226 Religion &c. among the Karens. [No. 4, 



cut the gold ring out of the crocodile's head, and let it go free in the 

 water. 



" He put the gold ring on his finger, and when he desired silver, 

 silver came into his box; and when he desired gold, gold came into 

 his box. The boatmen came back to the boat at night, but knew 

 nothing of what had happened ; and he returned with them to his 

 home. 



" He told his grandmother to go to the king of the country, and 

 ask his daughter in marriage for him. She said : ' Dost thou Avant to 

 be killed by the king's sword ? ' — and refused to go. He replied : 

 ' If thou dost not go, let thy arm come out of the back,' and imme- 

 diately her arm come out of her back. Being unable to withstand 

 her grandson, she finally went to the king, and asked his daughter for 

 him. 



" The king said : ' Let thy grandson build a bridge of silver, and a 

 bridge of gold from the foot of the steps of your house, to the foot of 

 the steps of my palace, and then he shall have my daughter in mar- 

 riage; but if he does not, then you shall die.' The old woman returned 

 weeping, but when she told the king's terms, he bid her cheer up, for 

 he could easily comply with them. 



" During the night, he desired a silver bridge and a golden bridge 

 to stretch itself between his house and the palace, and it was done. 

 So in the morning the king led his daughter over the golden bridge, 

 and gave her in marriage to Mr. Laziness. 



" There was a Brahmin at court, who came to the princess, and 

 said : ' Thy husband wears a gold ring, and he will not allow thee to 

 put it on thy finger.' She replied : ' If I ask him, he will.' So she 

 asked her husband to allow her to wear the gold ring, and he at once 

 granted her request. 



' : When the Brahmin saw the ring on her finger, he asked to see 

 it ; and she handed it to him. Immediately he put it on his finger, 

 and exclaimed : 'Fly away, fly away palace ; ' and the king's palace 

 flew away to the other side of the ocean with the Brahmin and the 

 princess in it. 



'• The king said to his servants : 'Because I received Mr. Laziness, 

 I have lost my palace, go put him in prison, and to-morrow go and 

 kill him.' The king's servants went and put him in prison. 



