STOKY OF THE BURONG GERUDA. 109 



the whole sea resounded with the noise of their gongs and 

 music. 



Now when they had sailed as far as Kuala Chingkong, the 

 name of whose Eaja was Klanggi, the face of the sun became 

 darkened, and it seemed as if a storm were about to descend 

 on them. 



The ships drew near together, and the Eaja Merong Ma- 

 hawangsa going up on deck with his weapons saw that it was 

 not a storm but an immense bird coming down on them, whose 

 wings made a noise like the rushing of a hurricane. 



For two days the fight with the bird Geruda went on. 

 The ships received it with volleys of arrows and cannon shots. 

 Eaja Merong Mahawangsa on the first-day brought forth his 

 bow " Aiyounan " and the wondrous flame-tipped arrows. 

 These he sent hustling into the air, and straightway they speed 

 with a noise like rolling thunder, as it were a mountain come 

 down, to overwhelm the Geruda, but he swiftly flying evaded 

 them. Neither cared he for the other missiles, they glanced 

 off harmlessly and fell into the sea, neither could Eaja Merong 

 Mahawangsa hit him on account of his swiftness. 



On the second day the bird Geruda attacked again. In 

 vain did Eaja Merong Mahawangsa draw against him the bow 

 Bran Pura. The fire-tipped arrows flew upwards with a noise 

 like thunder and causing darkness as astorm of wind and rain, 

 but they were all lost, nothing could wound the Geruda, even 

 with the assistance of the Genii and air sprites. With beak 

 and talons he seized six ships, scattering their crews into the 

 sea, or letting them fall on the land. 



Then night came on, and the ships clustered together for 

 mutual defence during the night. In the morning they repair- 

 ed their shattered rigging and searched for some trace of their 

 companions. But the sea gave up nothing, so after many days 

 they sailed on. And when they had traced the mouth of the 

 river, whose name is Marib, again they perceived a terrible 

 darkness growing in the sky with a noise of wind and rain and 

 fearful roaring. Then their hearts sank, but nevertheless they s 

 moored the ships and prepared to once more receive the Geru- 



R. A. Soc, No. 54, 1909- 



