HIKAYAT SERI RAMA. 15 
ing in the principal balaz with all her attendants, Maharaja Du- 
wana appeared in the form of a golden goat,*and excited the 
curiosity of every one, even of Séri Rama himse'f, 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 outstretched fingers of the multitude to the legs 
of a millipede!) it always disappeared.: In vain Séri 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 Séri Rama declare] 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 Séri Rama’s head-dress, 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 Kachapuri,” said he. 
“It may be seen peeping out from among the clouds, but is 
lost to view when the wind blows.’ “ What uneasiness of 
mind,” asked the Princess, “has brought you to my house 
at such an hour of the night?” 
*In the Ramayana it is Marichi, a relative and dependant of 
Ravana, 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 Ravana gains her 
presence in the form of an old man. 
R. A. Soc., No, 55, 1909. 
