1845.] the River Soane and Site of Palibothra. 141 



sufficient for four persons, they should be reduced to starvation on the 

 appearance of a fifth. They accordingly agreed to set off secretly in 

 the night in search of better fortunes, and leave their wives to take 

 care of themselves. The next morning the wives found that their 

 husbands had deserted them, and wandered about the forest in search 

 of them. It so happened, that Mahadeo and Parbuttee were making 

 an excursion through the air, and the goddess seeing the distress of 

 the two women at the loss of their husbands, entreated Mahadeo to 

 comfort and relieve them. Mahadeo thereupon called to them, and 

 told Soomut that the child, which would shortly be born to her, would 

 prove to be a source of wealth instead of poverty ; that whenever he 

 awoke from his sleep 1000 deenars would be found in his sleeve. 

 The celestial visitants then disappeared, and returned to their home 

 at Kylas. Soon after the birth of the child, which was a boy, the 

 anxious mother Soomut discovered, to her amazement, that whenever 

 the boy awoke from his sleep 1000 deenars really appeared shining 

 from under his elbows. She and her sister Purmut, therefore, speedily 

 became rich and went to Casi, where they purchased a large house, 

 and became celebrated all over the country for their munificence and 

 charity. The boy, being called Pootur (or son) by his parents, was 

 afterwards styled Raja Pootur by the people of Casi, on account of 

 his wealth and magnificence. In the mean time Kooshun and 

 Bukshun, the two husbands, who were residing in Karnath (Carnatic) 

 hearing the fame of his charities, proceeded to Casi, and applied to him 

 as mendicants for food and alms. The two ladies recognising their 

 lost husbands, but not being recognised by them owing to the sump- 

 tuousness of their dress, placed before them an excellent repast, and 

 inquired, who they were and whence they came? Upon which 

 Kooshun detailed their history as above. Soomut then observed, that 

 there was a remarkable coincidence in their histories, and proceeded to 

 narrate how they had been deserted by their husbands ; how Maha- 

 deo had appeared to them ; and how her son had been endowed with 

 the wonderful gift, which was the source of their wealth. The hus- 

 bands then beginning to recognise the features of their wives, the latter 

 threw themselves upon their necks and wept rejoicingly. 



" All went on happily for some time, when the husbands grew jea- 

 lous of the great attention which was paid to Raja Pootur, and con- 



x 



