How a Woman ate Cooked Rice by Stealth
H. (Henry) Parker translation
In a certain country there are a woman and a man, it is said. There is also a little one of the woman’s; the little one cannot talk well yet.
One day, at the time when the man comes, the little one says, “Father, having cooked maekittan fry, and having cooked raw-rice, let us eat her, eh?”
Then that man says at the hand of the woman, “What, Bolan, does this one say?”
Afterwards the man, causing the thread to be charmed, came and tied it on the arm of the little one.
North-western Province.
Notes in this chapter
Note 1 · Rice from which the skin has been removed without first softening it in hot water. After the cooking the grains adhere together. ↑Note 2 · This is considered to be a bad omen, hence the tying of the thread to put an end to such dreams; see vol. i, p. 15. I have been assured by tNote 3 · Having waited until the time when the man goes to the watch-hut [at night], this woman every day while he is in the chena having cooked raw-Note 4 · The woman says, “I don’t know. He eats in dreams,2 maybe. Cause thread to be charmed for it and come back.”