Malayan literature; comprising romantic tales, epic poetry and royal ...

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MALAYAN LITERATURE
" To have your Majesty's desire fully satisfied you have
only to abstain from leaving the palace."
Saying this, Bouzor Djambour took leave of the King and
went to the audience-chamber of the King. He spoke to those
assembled there as follows :
" O ministers, generals, and all
present^ know that his Majesty is ill. Now, in order to cure
him you must find for me a little bit of earth from a place in
ruins and uninhabited. Those who are faithful servants of
the King will not hesitate to accomplish immediately this act
of devotion in his service, and to start at once in search of the
I have named."
remedy
These words were scarcely uttered when men were sent out
to search the towns and villages and find some earth from a
place in ruins and uninhabited. They found only one house
in ruins, and the governor of the town said as follows about
it : "A merchant once established in this dwelling. He died
and left much wealth. As none of his heirs came forward,
we closed the doors with stones and mortar, waiting for them
to arrive. So the house has fallen to ruin."
Then the people took a little earth from beneath the house
and took it to the King, telling him what had happened. Then
the King called an assembly and said :
"
Know all that my illness proceeded only from my fear that
there might be in my kingdom a house in ruins. Now that it
has been shown to me that there exists in my whole realm not
a single place in ruins, but that the country is well populated,
my malady is cured, seeing that my kingdom is in a perfect
condition."
In the time of Nouchirvau a man sold his compound to
another man. The buyer of this property, while engaged in
making repairs, found in the earth many jars filled with gold
which someone had buried there. He went immediately to the
one who sold him the premises and told him the news. The
seller said:
" That gold is not mine, for I did not put it in the ground.
I sold you the compound ; the discovery that you have made is
yours."
The buyer replied :
"
I bought the not buy gold;
premises alone : I did
so it is yours." As each refused to take the
treasure, they went to the King Nouchirvau and recounted the