232 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
you will prove to me the truth or fallacy of this 
opinion, and discover to me the justice or absurdity 
of that trite adage 4 Jana Marula , jatra Manila,’ 
which I understand as implying a question of dif- 
ficulty, as to whether it is the people or their customs, 
that are ridiculous ?” Apa-ji, with his usual diffi- 
dence, begged of his majesty time for the solution of 
so nice a proposition, promising to return a faithful 
answer in a few days. 
This promise he duly performed ; and his answer 
was a practical answer, comprised in the following 
history of 
THE RAJA, HIS BUHKSHI, AND THE GOATHERD. 
After Krishnaraia had imposed the foregoing 
command upon Apa-ji, he dismissed his durbar , 
and the sage immediately retired to the solitudes 
of a neighbouring forest, intently occupied in the 
casting of some project which should afford a signal 
demonstration of the question referred to him. 
While thus engaged, by chance he cast his eyes 
upon a venerable -looking old man, who proved to 
be his own goatherd, one of low degree and of 
weak intellect, but of a rough and hardy nature, 
such as are most of his calling. In a moment, a 
happy design was suggested to the ready mind of 
the buhkshi ; and, calling the goatherd to his 
presence, he thus addressed him : — ■“ Listen to my 
words, O Bukri- Walla ! for I have need of your 
faithful service ; and, if fully yielded, it shall not go 
