388 
F. H. MALYON ON 
The princess said, “ Sit outside for a while. I will make enquiries from the 
goatherd. ’ ’ 
She went off, and questioned the goatherd concerning the animal The goat- 
herd said, “ On the same day that this goat first saw the light, its dam died. Now, 
at the time, my wife had recently lost her own child within a few days of birth ; so 
she nursed the young goat, which in truth was thus reared on human milk.” 
The princess was astonished, and reflected within herself, “I cannot settle 
affairs for such men. They are too astute.” 
Now the king had another daughter, and she made an offer to her father, saying, 
“ O kind (one), I, then, will undertake to give a decision for these men ; only do you 
make pretence that I am a man.” 
The king fell in with her idea, and arranged she should be called by a man’s 
name. 
The princess summoned her handmaiden (and said), “ Go — take food to these 
men, and say, ‘ There are seven heavens. — The sky is overcast — (Yet) the stars 
are many.’ ” 
Then the princess entrusted to a slave girl seven loaves, and also meat and ghee. 
The girl (on the way) consumed two of the loaves herself, and also the meat 
and the ghee that was with them. The remainder of the food she handed to the 
three brothers, saying, “The princess gives you greeting: and after the greeting, 
says, f There are seven heavens. — The sky is overcast. — (Yet) the stars are 
many.’ 
They, when they had eaten the food, replied to the girl, “ Give the princess our 
greeting: and thereafter tell her, ( The heavens are five. — The skies are clear. — Of 
stars, there are none.’ ” 
So the handmaid went back, and gave to the princess the men’s reply. The 
princess exclaimed, “ Why did you eat two of the loaves and the meat and the 
ghee ? 
The slave girl commenced to offer excuses, but her mistress caused her to be 
belaboured soundly. 
Now when morning came the three brothers repaired to the durbar where sat 
{liter, of) the king and his daughter. The princess, who had taken upon herself a 
man’s name, said, 
“ Ye men, listen to me. I will tell you a story. There was a wazir’s daughter, 
who went for a walk in her garden. Now when she reached there, the gardener 
arose, and gathered for her flowers. The wazir’s daughter said to him, c O gardener, 
what wish you ? ’ ” 
“ Indeed I have not reflected,” he answered, “ yet I have a petition.” 
“ Your request is granted,” said she, “ Speak ! ” 
The gardener replied, “ This is my wish, that on the day when you are married, 
that very evening your condescension may move you to visit me.” 
It is well,” she said, “ let doubt not trouble you.” 
Now upon the day when the wazir’s daughter was married, she said to her 
