will be well cared for." "My mother is a menial in the king's Zoo," answered Bhootoom. Boodhu also spoke of his mother as a servant whose duty it was to collect cow-dung cakes. At this the princes burst into a laugh, and said, "Is it possible for a monkey or an owl to be the offspring of a human being?" It was no wonder that they said this, for they did not know the sad history of Nau and Chhota Rani. But one of their attendants said, "O princes, what you think impossible has actually happened. Besides your mothers there were two Ranis, one of whom gave birth to this owl, and the other to this monkey. And they have both been disgraced and turned out of the palace."
Thereupon a great loathing seized the princes, and calling out "Shame! shame!" they kicked at the cages, and told their men to drive away the owl and the monkey. Then for recreation's sake they went out for a ride.
Now it was from this incident that Bhootoom and Boodhu learned that they were of royal parentage, and that their mothers were not originally menials. Boodhu said to Bhootoom, "Brother, the best thing for us now is to see our father. Let us go to him." At once Bhootoom agreed, and they set out together towards the palace.
Meanwhile the five Ranis, seated on a silver khat (bed), were engaged in making chains of gold for their foreheads, when a maidservant burst into their presence and said, "Your majesties, a boat, with its forepart shaped like the head of a parrot, is lying at the landing ghat. Its rudders are of silver, and the helm is cut from a diamond; and a girl with hair of the colour of a dark cloud, and complexion as fair and bright as the colour of a kunch,[1] is seated inside, talking to a parrot of gold."
The curiosity of the Ranis being excited to the highest pitch, they proceeded at once to obtain a sight of the wonderful maiden. The boat had unfurled its sails, but it was still near enough for the Ranis to address its occupant.
- ↑ An Indian seed; bright red, with a black tip.
