Note 101 — D. (continued 2)

Legend of Bâwan Ganga. 2. There is another famous tribal legend which is thus told by Mr. Beglar.101 “There was a Dusâdh living in Râjgir, whose daughter used to take the household pigs out in the field to feed. It happened that as she was so engaged on the day of the full moon of a certain great festival, she saw a Brâhman walking on very rapidly. On questioning him he replied that he was going to bathe in the Ganges on the full moon. The girl replied “You cannot possibly reach the Ganges in time; but if you believe me and your mind be full of faith, this is the exact moment of the full moon, and here is a pool (in which her pigs were wallowing); dip into it and you will realise the full fruits of bathing in the Ganges at this auspicious moment.” The Brâhman did as she desired and when he was in the pool, she said “Now is the exact moment. Dive in and see what you get.” The Brâhman did as desired and found the bottom full of valuable gems, of which he clutched a handful and came up. “Dive again,” said the girl. He dived again and found only mud at the bottom. “You see,” said the girl, “that I told you only the truth, when I said you will be too late if you go to the Ganges, for at the moment of your first dive the moon was at its exact full and you got your reward.”