122 CEYLON BHANC/H — ftOYAL ASIATIC SOCISIY, 



there was no water, and the men parched with thirst, became 

 exhausted. They travelled till sun set, when unyoking the oxen 

 they formed a circle with the waggons, and secured the cattle to the 

 waggon wheels. There was no water for the oxen ; and the men 

 had neither boiled rice nor gruel : exhausted and dispirited they 

 threw themselves on the ground. In the middle of the night 

 the devils sallied forth from their city, slew the men and oxen s 

 ate the flesh, and left the bones scattered about* Thus on ac- 

 count of one unwise man the whole of the caravan was des- 

 troyed, and the 500 waggons full of goods left standing in 

 the desert. 



A month and a half after the departure of the unwise trader^ 

 Bodisat left Benares with 500 waggons, and at length arrived 

 at the desert. Having put large supplies of water in vessels he 

 assembled the whole caravan by beat of drum, and said, Let 

 no person touch a drop of water without my permission: and 

 as there are poisonous plants in the desert, let no person eat of 

 any vegetable or fruit to which he has not been previously ac- 

 customed without first consulting me. Having thus advised his 

 attendants, he entered the desert When they had travelled to 

 the middle of it, the demons, as in the former instance, appeared 

 in their path. Bodisat seeing them, thought, in this desert there 

 is no water, and therefore it is called the arid desert : these 

 persons are bold, red-eyed, and cast no shadow. Assuredly the 

 trader who preceded me has been induced to throw away his 

 water, and he and his attendants, exhausted with thirst, have 

 been destroyed. This demon does not know of my wisdom, nor 

 reflect on my skill in expedients. He therefore said, Proceed ! 

 we merchants do not throw away water until we see a fresh sup- 

 ply : at the place where we meet with water, we lighten our 

 waggons by throwing away that which we brought with us. 

 Upon this the demon proceeded a short distance and disappeared. 

 When he was gone the attendants of Bodisat came to him and 

 ajaidj Sir, these men say that in the green forest which appears 



