The legends of the Panjâb

—
EAJA EASAL^. 51
"Wtat is it that people say happens when you shoot an
animal in the jangah '^
RajS, Ras&lii replied, " when I bit an animal with an arrow
it falls down in a faint, after running seven paces towards m e."
" This is a very wonderful thing," said the Runi, " and I shall
not believe you till I see it with my own eyes.''
So next morning the Eaja made Rani Kokilaii ride
on a pillion
behind bim, and he wore some coarse clothes over his
own, so that her perspiration should not injure him.* In tbisway
he went forth into the jangals to shoot. Presently he
shot a deer, and the deer as soon as it was wounded ran
sevea
paces away from him and fell down.
" Last night " said the Eani KokiMn^ " you told me that
when you bit an animial it would fall seven paces towards you,
but this has fallen seven paces away from you. Your words
have not come true."
" My virtue has left me," said the Raja, " because you havebeen
riding on the same horse as I."
" I will catch the deer with my bands, RaJEi," said the Rani,,
*'
and will bring them to you."
And so she opened out seven locks of her scented, hair,
and
sat on a tower of the palace, and the sweet scent of her hair
filled the air. Two deer, called Hira and Nila, came to wbereshe
was sitting, attracted by the scent of her hair, and stood,
by her. Then Raja Rasalu determined to- try the- power of the
attraction of Rani Kokilan's hair, and frightened the deer with,
his bow. As soon as the deer Nil a heard the twang of the
bow be ran for bis life, but the deer HliI was so attracted by
the scent of Rani Kokilan's hair that be remained where he was..
"It would be a pity to kill this deer that is sofondof my wife,"
thought the Raja, " but I will mark him well." So be cut off itstail
and ears to mark him, and then the deer Hira said to the Raja
Nan main Tchet ujdrid, nan main hhanni war
Kyun tain puahh hatio i Mtd M ziyun.
Main IM hiran Wn hdlejangal led, dhaular Idsdn chor.
* A superstition:, the woman's perspii-ation would take his "virtue"'
out of him.