FASCICULI MALATENSES 
177 
‘ So they abode in their hut, but it was difficult for them to eat rice 
(/.<?., to obtain a living), for they were exceeding poor. “Well,” said the 
brother, “ my little sister shall stay at home, and her big brother will go and 
look for food.” So the boy went forth with the fighting cock, and entered 
into the city. Then he took his cock and matched it against another, the lord 
of which was the prince of the city. But the prince said, “Hey ! thou art a 
poor boy, how much wilt thou wager with me ? ” “ Your Highness,” said 
the boy, “ if thy cock wins, take my body to be thy slave ; but if my cock wins, 
I beg for a little mouldy rice, for I am a poor man.” But his cock fought 
and won, and the prince gave him food and clothing. So he went back to 
his little sister’s hut, and called aloud, “ Little sister ! little sister ! open the 
door ! Your brother has returned from his quest.” Then said she, “ If it 
be indeed my brother, let the cock crow over the door ! ” Then the cock 
crew, and she opened the door, and they ate, and clothed themselves. 
‘ Day by day the boy took his cock (into the city), and day by day it 
won ; until at last the prince sent a man to see where he lived, while he 
fought it before him. So the prince’s slave went forth from the rich city, and 
saw the little hut ; and he saw that the boy’s sister was surpassing fair, and 
went back and told his lord. “ It is well,” said the prince. “ To-morrow 
ye shall keep the boy, and I will go and see the maid.” So on the morrow 
the boy came with his cock, and the servants of the prince detained him, 
while the prince went forth with his messenger to the hut. Then when they 
came to the hut, the prince changed himself into the snake called Ular Lidi y 
the ‘ Snake (like) the Midrib of a Palm-leaf.’ [A common species goes by 
this name in Patani.] And he crawled within through a small hole, and 
seized the maid, and wound himself round her waist. Then the boy came 
back, when he had ceased cock-fighting, and, when he came to the hut, he 
cried aloud, “ Little sister ! little sister ! open the door ! ” But the maid 
replied, “ Stay, big brother ! a snake is coiled round my waist.” So her 
brother broke open the door, and seized a jungle-knife to slay the snake. 
“Stay,” said the snake, “ Slay me not !” Then the snake changed into the 
prince once more. “ It is well,” he said. “ Slay me not ! I will make the 
maid my wife.” So he took the maid and her brother and the cock back to 
the city ; and her he married, but he made the boy his vizier. 
‘ Now the Cleft Rock that devoured the woman may be seen to this day 
in the country of Malacca.’ 
Y 
3/4/03 
