1881.] 
SONG OP KING SALHES. 
15 
looked about tbe bouse for property, but could find none. He only saw 
Hansabati sleeping on tbe golden bed, and tens of thousands of jewels on 
her limbs. Chuhar Mai looked at them, and considered what thing be 
should take. “ I will take two things, the golden bed, and tbe necklace 
on tbe neck of the queen.” As be said this morning came, and therefore 
be cut tbe necklace from tbe neck of tbe queen, and, lifting her up, laid her 
on king Bbim Sain’s (empty) bed, and took tbe golden bed upon bis bead. 
12. As morning broke be made off through tbe mine for four Jcos , 
and then emerged from it in tbe midst of the forest. Immediately be 
dressed himself as a traveller, and forcibly went off with bis booty to 
Mokama fort. As be came to tbe meeting of tbe rivers on tbe Ganges 
bank, a watch of tbe day bad passed. Then be addressed tbe Ganges thus, 
“ Hear, 0 Ganga, I have committed theft, and come to thee, and it is 
from tbe kingdom of tbe hills, and from tbe fort of king Bbim Sain, and 
from tbe beat of Sallies, that I bring the booty. If ever Salbes come in 
search of me, let him not pass over thee. If ever thou bearest him across, 
at that hour will I be enraged, and by tbe power gained by my virtues, 
will I bind thy streams with a dam.” He spake so far and crossed tbe 
river into tbe land of Magadh, and from the land of Magadb, went to 
Mokama fort, and buried bis booty within tbe inmost of seven bouses. All 
this time tbe sleep of tbe queen in her palace was not broken, nor did any 
one wake. In tbe palace tbe first to wake was tbe damsel Salkbi. 
13. She bore a broom and swept tbe court-yard, and then stood in 
tbe verandah of tbe palace. Then she began to think to herself about the 
queen, “ How can a woman stay so long in bed when her husband is not 
with her.” So she dropped her broom, and ran into tbe inner chamber, 
and opening tbe door awakened queen Hansabati. “ Else, Lady, Else, thou 
sleepest soundly; some thief bath come and dug a mine into tbe house.” 
As she spoke, Queen Hansabati arose, and seeing tbe mine, cried out aloud. 
By that time all the servants bad run up, and surrounded tbe bouse on all 
sides, searching for traces of tbe thief, but nowhere could they find them. 
Then Queen Hansabati began to weep, and weeping to call on the name of 
tbe king. At length, weeping and weeping, she tore her upper garment 
for paper, and rubbed off tbe collyrium of her eyes for ink. She pared 
tbe little finger of her left band for a pen, and began to write a letter. 
“ I would tell king Bbim Sain about a theft. A theft has taken place in 
tbe fort. From bis birth Salbes bath been its Chaukidar, tell him to pro¬ 
duce tbe thief and bis booty. Till then let him not be set at liberty.” Such 
a letter did she write, and told tbe damsel to call a man-servant, and sent 
tbe letter by him to king Bbim Sain. 
14. About midday tbe letter reached the king. He saw tbe letter, 
and flew into a rage. At once he told all bis Banaudhia peons to arrest 
