16 
MATTITTL CnUESTOMATHT. 
[Extra No. 
Sallies, and bring him before him. Away ran all the Banaudhias, but Salhes 
hid himself, and nowhere could they find a trace of him. Then they 
searched throughout Pakaria, and through the swamps and marshes. They 
searched through the mountains of Tarengana, but nowhere did they find 
a trace of Salhes. Broken-hearted they sat in a fallow field, and began to 
hang their heads in shame. Just then an old woman traveller passed 
along the road, and began to ask them why so many Banaudhias were 
hanging down their heads. They replied that they were hanging down 
their heads through shame at the name of one Salhes, and asked her to 
give them a trace as to his whereabouts. The old woman said, “ I saw 
Salhes somewhere. He was drinking spirits at the still of a spirit-seller, 
and rolling gd'jd in his hands. He had a dark blue turban on his head, 
and a brown stick in his hand, and had besmeared his body with damp 
earth, (like a gymnast).” Immediately all the Banaudhias ran to catch 
Salhes, and surrounded the distiller’s still. Then they went up to him, 
and arrested him, and tied his arms behind his back. Then Salhes began 
to ask the Banaudhias, “ Tell me what fault have I committed that ye 
have bound me.” The Banaudhias replied “ Come to the Kachahari, king 
Bhim Sain will tell you the reason why. We do not know.” Before and 
behind went the Banaudhias, in their midst went Salhes, till they got to 
the Kachahari, where the former presented Salhes in the Kachahari and with 
clasped hands all the Banaudhias exclaimed, and (asked the king) to take 
charge of the prisoner. 
15. Then with hands clasped Salhes stood before the king, and said, 
“ From birth have I been thy slave, and never even have I been branded 
by a flower. To-day what has happened that I am bound in chains ?” Then 
king Bhim Sain said “ In thy presence a theft has taken place in my 
palace ; arrest the thief with his booty, then thou wilt be released. Till then 
thou wilt not be set free.” Then said Salhes “ I am responsible for the 
guardianship of fourteen 7cos of Pakaria, but I have found no trace of the 
thief. Bring paper and I will write a bond for the value of the stolen 
property, and through all my future lives will I pay it off. I cannot 
(find) the thief and his booty.” Then king Bhim Sain was enraged in 
heart, and ordered his Banaudhias thus, “ Take Salhes away from my pre¬ 
sence, and tie his hands behind his back. Lay nine maunds of the trunk 
of a tree on the top of him. Skin his back with a split length of green 
bamboo. A Dusadli by caste will never confess.” Then into affliction fell 
Salhes, and he began to cry, “Now my life will not escape. I must die 
in the end. Fate cannot be wiped away. I have not seen my own 
brother Motiram, nor have I seen my wedded wife. I have not even seen 
my old mother.” He began to think upon Asavari, the goddess of his 
