CEYLON BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 131 



where I have no relations ; let us return to my family : but 

 he put it off, saying, Let us go to morrow, or the day after- 

 She thought, this foolish man, knowing that his fault is great, will 

 not endeavor to go: but parents certainly feel for their chil- 

 dren, and whether he go or remain it is proper that I should 

 go. Accordingly she put aside her household furniture, left the 

 house, and told the neighbours that she was returning to her 

 family, and set out on her journey. The man returning home 

 and being informed by the neighbours that she was gone to her 

 relations, followed quickly after her, and overtook her on the 

 road just as she was taken in labour. He accosted her, and 

 said, Wife, what is this ? She replied, Husband I have borne a 

 son : what shall we now do ? That for which I was going to 

 my parents' house has taken place on the road ; what shall we 

 gain by going there ? Let us remain where we are. To this 

 he agreed, and as the child was born on the road they 

 called him Pant'haka. Not long afterwards she again 

 proved pregnant, and again desirous of returning to her parents 

 set out on her journey, but her second son was also born on tho 

 road. On this account they called the first born Maha Pant'haka, 

 and the other one Chuila Pant'haka ; taking their children with 

 them they returned to their former habitation. While living 

 there the child Pant'haka heard the other children saying, uncle, 

 grand-father, grand-mother, &c, and coming to his mother said, 

 Mother, other children say, uncle, grand-father, grand-mother: 

 have we no relations ? Yes child, she replied, but we have no 

 relations here: your grand-father is a rich nobleman in Raja- 

 gaha, and your relations are there. Why then do we not go 

 there, mother ? She then told her son the reason of their coming 

 to their present residence, but the child again and again spoke 

 to her on the subject. She then said to her husband, These chil- 

 dren pine away : let us take them to their grand- father : will 

 my father and mother eat our flesh if they see us? He replied,, 

 I cannot appear before your parents, but if you can contrive by . 



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