The ocean of story, being C.H. Tawney's translation of Somadeva's ...

THE FAIR VAYUVEGAYASAS 65
washing into them of antimony. 1 The rows of birds, flying
up with loud cries from that lake, appeared like the girdles
of its presiding nymphs advancing to meet him. And the
lotuses, eclipsed by the beauty of the lotus-like faces of his
wives, plunged beneath the waves as if ashamed. And after
bathing, Naravahanadatta, with his attendants, spent that day
on the bank of that lake.
There the successful prince, with his wives and ministers,
spent his time in jocose conversation, and next morning he set
forth thence in his chariot with his army. And as he was
going along, he reached the city of Vayupatha, which lay in
his way ; and he stayed there a day to please him. There he
fell in love with a maiden, that he came across in a garden,
the sister of Vayupatha, by name Vayuvegayasas. She,
while amusing herself in a garden on the bank of the
Hemabaluka 2
river, saw him arrive, and though in love with
him disappeared at once. Then Naravahanadatta, supposing
that she had turned her back on him for some reason other
than the real one, returned with downcast face to his quarters.
There the queens found out the adventure that had befallen
the king by means of Marubhuti, who was with him (for
Gomukha was too clever for them to try him), and then they
made all kinds of jokes at the king's expense, while Gomukha
stood by ashamed at the indiscretion of Marubhuti.
Then Gomukha, seeing the king out of countenance,
consoled him, and, in order to ascertain the real sentiments
There Vayupatha saw
of Vayuvegayasas, went to her city.
him suddenly arrived, as if to take a look at the city, and he
1 See Vol. I, pp. 211, 212. Whether "antimony" or "galena" is the
correct translation here is hard to say. As both are usual for the eyes, in the
form of a black powder, mistakes have often occurred, not only by the Hindus
and Mohammedans (Watt, Economic Products, vol. i, p. 271), but even by
geologists (La Touche, Bibliography of Indian Geology, vol. ii, p. 13). In
modern days galena is used much more than antimony, of which the Indian
output is very small ; so also in Burma, whence some of the Indian supplies
were derived. (See my Mineral Resources of Burma, pp. Ill, 112, with
bibliographical references.) The English word antimony is probably derived
from the Arabic al-ithmid. For its etymological history see L. L. Bonaparte,
"Antimony," Academy, 23rd February 1884, p. 135.
2 The word means "
having sands of gold."
n.m.p.
VOL. VIII. B