SKI RAMA. 105 



wana appeared in the form of a golden goat,* and excited the 

 curiosity of every one, even of Sri Rama himself, who sum- 

 moned all his people to seize this extraordinary prodigy. 

 They chased it in vain, for it always eluded seizure ; just 

 when any number of hands were put out to grasp it (the 

 narrator compares the outstreched fingers of the multitude to 

 the legs of a millipede!) it always disappeared. In vain Sri 

 Rama had fences, walls and houses levelled in order to give it 

 no cover, the golden goat still escaped its pursuers. In the 

 afternoon it went outside the fort to feed, and there again it 

 was fruitlessly hunted until evening, when 6ri Rama declared 

 that he would not go home until it was caught, and night 

 found him and his people holding each other's hands and 

 groping about in the dark in the jungle after the mysterious 

 animal. 



The King having thus been safely disposed of, Maharaja 

 Duwana got back into the fort and resumed his own shape. 

 Then he made his way to the door of the Princess' chamber, 

 which he found locked with twelve locks. Striking the door 

 with his magic turban, which had all the love-compelling 

 attributes which have already been mentioned in connection 

 with Sri Rama's head-dress (supra p. 96^), he caused the 

 twelve keys to fall to the ground, and he entered the room 

 without further obstacle. 



The Princess was astonished at finding herself confronted 

 in the King's private apartments by a stranger, and asked him 

 whence he came. " From the island of Kackapuri/' said he, 

 Yang ter-sisip di awan mega, 

 Hilang di puput an gin, 



Meniangkar balam, tanipak deri kamuuehak gunong 

 Inggil-ber-inggil. 



r " * In the Ramayana it is Maricht, a relative and dependant of 

 Ravajsa, who assumes the shape of a golden deer. It is eventually 

 overtaken and killed by Rama. When dying, MarIchi imitates the 

 voice of Rama, and thus induces Laksamana to start off to his 

 brother's assistance. Sita is thus left alone, and Ravaxa gains 

 her presence in the form of an old man. 



