A Digit of the Moon

This is the critical point. These words may also mean: What is the caste of the child? The wrestler's answer fits both. The searching for fleas, as applied to the child, will surprise no one who has been in India.

70

A term, very common in Sanskrit poetry, for a woman who goes of her own accord to her lover.

71

It is not clear how she knew this, unless she heard him tell the judge.

72

It is not clear what goméda means.

73

i. e. a tall tree. Our idiom is the same.

74

The author probably knew that the elephant's feet are very apt to go wrong and cause trouble: but whether 'white ants' or any other ants could produce the disease is a point for the natural historian to determine.

75

Famous in poetry for its extraordinary toughness.

76

Literally, what is the error of policy (nítídósha) in the story.

77

i. e. 'a chain is no stronger than its weakest link.' The Princess's answer is exceedingly clever: and there are few who would not have given the obvious answer which she rejects.

78

I have slightly modified the original jingle, which means: The thirst for delusion is the bane of the universe.

79

i. e. 'red lipped.'

80

Ceylon: reputed to be the home of a certain kind of demons called Rakshasa.

81

The moon is not feminine in Sanskrit.

82

This is not a strict translation. Hindoo ladies, as far as my experience goes, do not blush: they 'exhibit shame.' But as the emotion is clearly the same, I have employed the English equivalent.

83

The king of the snakes.

84

i. e. 'the mine, or receptacle of jewels,' a common appellation of the sea.

85

The dénouement of this story has a most singular resemblance to that of Prosper Merimée's Lokis. But apparently he drew that admirable story (as he did his Carmen and his Venus) from older sources, of Lithuanian, Gipsy, possibly even Hindoo origin.

86

Kapisha.

87

Trinamani, a gem that attracts grass.

88

This story is only the embodiment of an idea familiar to every Hindoo, but in the original it is very pithily told.

89

Lóhita. The sea-gem is perhaps some kind of pearl.

90

The god of death (pronounce Yum).

91

Káma, or Kámadéwa, the god of love. His names are innumerable.

92

'Down-grower,' the banian, which lets down roots from its branches.

93

A name for Love which also means memory.

94