The Woman who ate by stealth
Reading edition
At a certain village there is a woman, it is said; the woman went in a dīga [marriage]. Having gone in the dīga, when she is there a great many days she began to eat by stealth (horā-kanḍa). Afterwards the man having said, “I don’t want the woman who eats by stealth,” and having gone [with her] to her village, put her back [there].
Afterwards, after many days went by, yet [another] man having come, went back, calling her [in marriage]. [When living] near (i.e., with) that man also she began to eat by stealth. Afterwards that man also having said, “I don’t want this woman who eats by stealth,” and having gone [with her] to her village, put her back [there].
Thus, in that way she went in ten or twelve dīga [marriages], it is said. Because she eats by stealth, they bring her back and place her [at home again].
Afterwards, still a man came and asked [for her in marriage]. The woman’s father said, “Child, I gave her in ten or twelve dīga [marriages]. Because she eats by stealth, having brought and brought her, they put her [back here]. Because of it, should I give her to you it will not be successful,” he said.
Having investigated for a great many days, when he looked [he saw that] she eats by stealth. Afterwards the man said to the woman, “Bolan, it has become necessary for me to eat a [special] food. How about it?” he said.
“What is it?” the woman asked.
Then the woman said, “Is that a very wonderful work? Let us cook it on any day you want it,” she said.
Afterwards the man said, “If so, when you cook it I cannot look and look on, eyeing it, and [then] eat it. To-day I am going on a journey; you cook.”
Having said [this], the man dressed himself well, and having left the house behind, and gone a considerable distance [returned and got hid]. When he was hidden, the woman, taking the large water-pot, went for water. Having seen it, the man went running, and having got on the platform in the room (at the level of the top of the side walls), remained looking out.
The woman, taking rice and having put it to soak and pounded it into flour, began to cook. After having [cooked some cakes and eaten part of them, she] cooked a fresh package of cakes, and finished; and having put the fresh package of cakes into syrup, and laid the packet of cakes over the others which remained, and covered them, she took the water-pot and went to the well, and having taken water after bathing, set off to come back.
The man quickly descended from the platform, and having gone to the path, got hid. The woman came to the house, taking the water, and having placed the water-pot [there], when she was taking betel the man came out from the place where he was hidden, and came to the house.
Afterwards, the woman having apportioned the milk-cake on the plate, and said, “In̆dā! Eat,” gave him it. Thereupon the man, looking in the direction of the plate, says, “What are ye saying? Get out of the way. Should she eat it secretly in that way, it is for her stomach, and should she eat it openly it is for her stomach,” he said. In that way he says it two or three times. The woman heard.
Afterwards the woman asked, “Without eating the milk-cake, what do you say that for?” she asked.
Thereupon the man says, “These flies are saying to me that after you were cooking, you cooked a fresh package of cakes, and having finished, and put the package of cakes into syrup, you ate the package. Afterwards I said, ‘Should she eat it secretly (hemin̥) it is for her (un̥daege) stomach; should she eat it openly it is for her stomach,’ ” he said.
Beginning from that day, the woman, having said, “Do you tell tales in that way?” began to kill the flies. She also stopped eating by stealth.
Tom-tom Beater. North-western Province.