three

ween

the

VII.

VAYALVALLAN KAIYAVALLA.

MR. MIGHTY- OF- HIS- MOUTH AND

MR. MIGHTY- OF- HIS- HANDS.

IN two adjoining villages there lived two famousmen. The one was called Mr. Mighty- of- his- mouth*-one that could accomplish wonders with wordsalone. The other was called Mr. Mighty- of- his-hands- one who could make no use of that glibinstrument the tongue, but was able to bear burdens,cut wood, and perform other physical labour.

It so happened that they agreed to live togetherin the house of the Mr. Mighty- of- his- mouth, to tryand see which of them was the superior. Theyaccordingly kept company for several months, tillthe great feast of the nine nights( navarátrî) cameOn the first day of the feast Mr. Mighty- of-his- hands wanted to sacrifice a goat to the goddessKâlî. So he said to Mr. Mighty- of- his- mouth,

on.

" My dear friend, we both are mighty in our way,and so it would be shameful for us to buy the goat,

*

Váyálvallan.

+ Kaiyálvallan.