18 maithil chrestomathy. [Extra No. 
fine coloured cap; smear thy body with moist earth, and exercise thyself* 
three or four times, that thou mayest appear a true nat." 
18. Then Dauna Malin apparelled herself in garments of the south, 
arranged her hair flat over each temple, applied collyrium to her eyelids, 
and between each of her teeth she inserted black dye. She put on a tight 
fitting boddice, and an armlet on her arm, around her feet anklets, and on 
her forehead silver spots like the moon surrounded by stars; and thus she 
made herself appear a real dancer.f The two then began to sing the song 
of Alba and Rudal (after the manner of nats). Hearing the cry of Alha all 
the people of the Morang came, and surrounded them, and began to see 
the show: and behold, those whom they knew were unrecognized by them. 
Then the two lowered their tent, and went to catch the thief, and arrived 
at the Ganges bank. In the meantime the Ganges heard of the advent of 
Salhes, and all along its banks it sunk the boats, and taking its proper 
form of a Brahmani woman mounted its highest bank. They reached the 
bank of the river, and asked her to show them where they could find a boat, 
that they might cross the river. Then the Ganges said “ All the boats 
have been borne away by the stream, return ye, then, to your own house.” 
“ We will not return, but will cross the river as if it was dry land.” She 
took off her necklace, and laid it upon the water, and the nat and the natin 
mounted on it; away floated the necklace, and upon it the nat and natin 
crossed the river into Magadh. From Magadh they hastened to Munger, 
and travelling the whole night arrived at Balawe, and selecting a grove in 
the village of Mokama they fixed upon it for their lodging, and hung up 
all their property, and pitched their tent. 
19. Then Salhes rested himself and sate himself down, and the natin 
putting a bundle of beads on her head went to sell them in the bazar. 
“Buy, O mistress, buy my beads,” cried she. Then selling and selling 
beads she arrived at Chuhar’s outer gate. ITe was sleeping the sleej:* of 
seven sleepers within his seven houses, and Malin herself stood at the door, 
and by her magic awoke him. He woke with a start, and gazed around 
in wonder, and opening the doors of the seven houses, he came outside 
asking the Malin why she had come to his house. “ I am by caste a natin , 
1 have come to thy house for two or three pice.” Then said Chuhar Mai 
“ In my house there is no mother, nor sister, nor wife. How therefore canst 
thou expect any present from me P” The natin replied, “ Last night I saw 
in a dream in my tent that in thy house there is a necklace. Give me 
that as a present, and I will fulfil all thy heart’s desires.” Now when 
he saw her beauty he went and brought the necklace, saying, “ I stole this 
• _ 
* See "^'3' in Vocabulary. 
t Not a strictly accurate rendering 1 of the word in the original; see Vocabulary. 
