Tamarind Tikka

In a certain city there are seven elder brothers and younger brothers, it is said. The seven have a younger sister, who cooks and gives food to all seven.

ある都に兄弟が七人いたという。七人には妹が一人あり、七人みなのために煮炊きをして食べさせていた。

While the seven brothers were cutting and cutting the sides of an earthen ridge (nira) in the rice field, they saw seven women coming, and said to them, "Where are you going?"

七人の兄弟が田の土の畦(ニラ)のわきを刻みに刻んでいると、七人の女が来るのが見えたので、こう言った。「どこへ行くのだ」

The seven women replied, "We are seven elder sisters and younger sisters; and we are going to seek seven elder brothers and younger brothers."

七人の女は答えた。「わたしたちは姉妹七人です。兄弟七人を探しに行くところです」

Then the seven brothers said, "We are seven elder brothers and younger brothers. Stop with us."

すると七人の兄弟は言った。「われらは兄弟七人だ。われらのもとにとどまれ」

The seven sisters said, "Ha."

七人の姉妹は「よし」と言った。

The seven brothers having brought the seven sisters to their house, leaving them there went again to the rice field, and chopped the ridges. Those seven sisters having boiled seven pots of paddy and spread it out to dry, said to their sister-in-law, "We are going for firewood; you stay at home and look after these things."

七人の兄弟は七人の姉妹を家へ連れてきて、そこに置いてまた田へ行き、畦を刻んだ。その七人の姉妹は籾を七壺煮て干し広げてから、義理の妹に言った。「わたしたちは薪を取りに行きます。あなたは家にいてこれを見ていてください」

After they had gone, that sister-in-law fell asleep. Then rain having fallen, the seven large mats (magal) on which the paddy was spread were washed away. When the seven sisters came, and saw that the mats and paddy had been washed away, they seized that woman, and having beaten her, drove her away from the house. So she went to the foot of a Tamarind tree on the roadside, and stayed there.

行ってしまうと、その義理の妹は眠り込んだ。すると雨が降って、籾を広げた七枚の大きな莚(マガル)が流されてしまった。七人の姉妹が帰ってきて、莚も籾も流されたのを見ると、その女をつかまえて打ちすえ、家から追い出した。そこで女は道ばたの羅望子の木の下へ行って、そこにいた。

When a long time had passed after she went there, all those seven women bore girls. The woman under the Tamarind tree bore a boy.

そこへ行って長い時がたつと、あの七人の女はみな女の子を産んだ。羅望子の木の下の女は男の子を産んだ。

As the eldest brother was going along the road on which was the tree, the woman said, "Ane! Elder brother, look at my boy's horoscope." He said, "I will not."

長兄がその木のある道を通ると、女は言った。「アネ! 兄さん、うちの子の星回りを見てください」。長兄は「いやだ」と言った。

As the next brother was going she said, "Ane! Elder brother, look at my boy's horoscope." He said, "I will not."

次の兄が通ると、女は言った。「アネ! 兄さん、うちの子の星回りを見てください」。その兄も「いやだ」と言った。

Thus, in that way all the six elder brothers refused.

こうして六人の兄はみな断った。

Afterwards, when the youngest brother was going, on her saying, "Ane! Elder brother, look at my boy's horoscope," he said, "Ha," and went.

そのあと末の兄が通ったとき、女が「アネ! 兄さん、うちの子の星回りを見てください」と言うと、「よし」と言って行った。

When he looked at it, the astrologer said, "He is born such that he will bring misfortune to those seven girls. The child will be so lucky that he might obtain a kingdom."

見てもらうと、星占い師は言った。「この子は、あの七人の娘たちに災いをもたらす生まれだ。この子はたいそう運がよくて、国を手に入れるかもしれぬ」

Then the brother having returned, said to that woman, "That one has been born such that he will eat thee. Knock his head on a stone or root, and kill him."

そこでその兄は帰ってきて、その女に言った。「あの子はおまえを食う生まれだ。頭を石か木の根に打ちつけて殺してしまえ」

The woman saying, "It is good. Let him eat me," reared him.

女は「よろしい。わたしを食べさせましょう」と言って、その子を育てた。

The child having become big, said at the hand of the woman, "Mother, now then, oughtn't you to bring me an assistant (i.e. a wife)?" The woman replied, "Ane! Son, who will give in marriage to us?"

子が大きくなると、女に言った。「母さん、そろそろ助け手(つまり嫁)を迎えてくれませんか」。女は答えた。「アネ! 息子や、われらに誰が嫁をくれましょう」

Afterwards the youth went to a place where they were grinding flour, and having put a little flour under his finger nail, came back. "Mother, mother, quickly hold a basin," he said. The woman held one. Then, when he put into the basin the little flour that was under his finger nail, it filled it and ran over.

そのあと若者は粉を挽いている場所へ行って、爪の下に粉を少し入れて帰ってきた。「母さん、母さん、早く鉢を持って」と言った。女は鉢を持った。すると爪の下の少しの粉を鉢に入れると、鉢は満ちてあふれた。

Having gone again to a place where they were expressing coconut oil, in the same way he took a little coconut under his finger nail, and came back. "Mother, mother, hold that quickly," he said. The woman held it. That also was filled and overflowed.

また椰子油を搾っている場所へ行って、同じように爪の下に椰子を少し取って帰ってきた。「母さん、母さん、早くそれを持って」と言った。女は持った。それも満ちてあふれた。

Again, having gone to a place where they were warming Palm-tree syrup, in the same way he took some under his finger nail, and came back. "Mother, mother, hold that quickly," he said. That also was filled and overflowed.

また椰子の蜜を煮ている場所へ行って、同じように爪の下に少し取って帰ってきた。「母さん、母さん、早くそれを持って」と言った。それも満ちてあふれた。

Afterwards the youngster said, "Mother, cook cakes with those things, and give me them." So the woman having cooked them, tied up a pingo (carrying-stick) load, and gave it to him.

そのあと若者は言った。「母さん、それで餅をこしらえてください」。そこで女は餅をこしらえて、ピンゴ(天秤棒)の荷に縛って渡した。

The youngster, taking the pingo load, went to his eldest uncle [28]. After he asked him for his daughter's hand in marriage, the uncle said, "Be off! Be off! Who would give in marriage to Tamarind Tikka?"

若者は天秤棒の荷を担いで、いちばん上の叔父 [28] のところへ行った。娘を嫁にくれと頼むと、叔父は言った。「出ていけ! 出ていけ! 羅望子ティッカに誰が嫁をやるものか」

From there he went to the next uncle, and asked him. That uncle spoke in the same manner. All the six elder uncles spoke in the same manner.

そこから次の叔父のところへ行って頼んだ。その叔父も同じように言った。六人の年上の叔父はみな同じように言った。

Then he went to the youngest uncle, and when he asked him the uncle said, "Put the packages of cakes there, then." (Intimating by this that he accepted him as a son-in-law. He alone knew of the nature of the boy's horoscope.)

そこで末の叔父のところへ行って頼むと、叔父は言った。「では餅の包みをそこに置け」(これによって婿として受け入れるという意を示したのである。この叔父だけが少年の星回りの性質を知っていた)。

Afterwards, having cooked and given Tamarind Tikka to eat, the uncle said, "My buffalo cow has died, Tamarind Tikka. Let us go and bury it, and return."

そのあと、煮炊きをして羅望子ティッカに食べさせてから、叔父は言った。「わしの水牛の牝が死んだ、羅望子ティッカよ。葬りに行って帰ってこよう」

Tamarind Tikka said "Ha," and having gone to the place where the dead buffalo was lying, said, "Uncle, shall I make that get up?" The uncle said "Ha." So Tamarind Tikka went to the low bushes at the edge of the jungle, and came back cutting a white stick. Then calling out, "Into the cattle-fold, Buffalo cow! Into the cattle-fold!" he struck the buffalo. Then the buffalo cow that had been dead got up, and came running to the cattle-fold. By the calves from that buffalo cow the cattle herd was increased.

羅望子ティッカは「よし」と言って、死んだ水牛の横たわる場所へ行き、こう言った。「叔父さん、あれを起こしましょうか」。叔父は「よし」と言った。そこで羅望子ティッカは藪の端の低い茂みへ行って、白い棒を切って帰ってきた。そして「牛囲いへ、水牛よ! 牛囲いへ!」と呼びながら、水牛を打った。すると死んでいた水牛の牝は起き上がって、牛囲いへ駆けていった。その水牛の牝の仔によって、牛の群れは増えた。

One day, while the six uncles and Tamarind Tikka were watching cattle in the field, the uncles said, "Tamarind Tikka, we will watch. You go and eat, and come back." After he had gone home, the six uncles cut all the throats [29] of his cattle. When he returned the six uncles said, "Ane! Tamarind Tikka. Some men came, and having tied us all and thrown us down in the dust, cut all the throats of your cattle. Not a thing could we do." Tamarind Tikka said, "Ha. It is good."

ある日、六人の叔父と羅望子ティッカが野で牛の番をしていると、叔父たちは言った。「羅望子ティッカ、われらが見ていよう。おまえは行って食べてこい」。羅望子ティッカが家へ行くと、六人の叔父は羅望子ティッカの牛の喉をみな掻き切った [29]。帰ってくると六人の叔父は言った。「アネ! 羅望子ティッカ。何人か男が来て、われらをみな縛って土の上に投げ倒し、おまえの牛の喉をみな掻き切ったのだ。われらには何もできなかった」。羅望子ティッカは言った。「よし。それでよろしい」

As he was going away, having seen people burying a corpse he waited while they were burying it, and after they had gone he dug out the grave, and raised the dead body to the surface. Then lifting up the body and taking it to a tank, he bathed it, dressed it in a cloth, tied a handkerchief round its waist, tied a handkerchief on its head, put a handkerchief over its shoulder, [30] and placing it on his shoulder went away with it.

去っていく途中、人が死骸を葬っているのを見て、葬り終わるまで待ち、みなが行ってしまってから墓を掘って、死骸を地上へ引き上げた。そして死骸を抱え上げて溜池へ運び、洗って、布を着せ、腰に手巾を巻き、頭に手巾を結び、肩に手巾をかけ [30]、それを肩に担いで去っていった。

After nightfall, having gone to a village, Tamarind Tikka set the body upright against a clump of plantain trees, and asked at a house, "Ane! You must give us a resting-place to-night."

日が暮れてから、ある村へ行って、羅望子ティッカは死骸を芭蕉の茂みにもたせかけて立たせ、ある家で尋ねた。「アネ! 今夜、休む場所をくださいませんか」

When he said this the men in the house replied, "There will be no resting-place here. Go away, and ask at another house."

そう言うと、家の者たちは答えた。「ここに休む場所はない。よその家で尋ねてくれ」

Then he said, "Ane! Don't say so. Our great-grandfather is coming there."

すると羅望子ティッカは言った。「アネ! そんなことをおっしゃらないでください。うちの曽祖父があそこに来ております」

Women were driving cattle out of that garden. Tamarind Tikka said to them, "Ane! Our great-grandfather is coming there. His eyes cannot see anything. Don't hit him, any one."

女たちがその庭から牛を追い出していた。羅望子ティッカは女たちに言った。「アネ! うちの曽祖父があそこにおります。目が何も見えないのです。誰も打たないでください」

Then a woman at the raised terrace of the shop, having knocked down a stump, when she was throwing it at the cattle the dead body was hit, and fell down. At the blow Tamarind Tikka went running there, and cried out, "Appe! Great-grandfather is dead."

すると店の高い台にいた女が、切り株を叩き落として牛に投げつけたとき、死骸に当たって倒れた。その一撃に羅望子ティッカは駆けつけて叫んだ。「アッペ! 曽祖父が死んだ!」

The men came out of the house and said, "Tamarind Tikka, don't cry. We will give you a quart measure of money."

家から男たちが出てきて言った。「羅望子ティッカ、泣くな。銭を一クォート升やろう」

"I don't want either a quart measure of money or two. Our great-grandfather is dead," Tamarind Tikka said, and cried aloud.

「銭を一クォート升も二クォート升もいらぬ。うちの曽祖父が死んだのだ」と羅望子ティッカは言って、声高く泣いた。

Again the men said, "Appa! Tamarind Tikka, don't cry. We will give you three quart measures of money."

また男たちは言った。「アッパ! 羅望子ティッカ、泣くな。銭を三クォート升やろう」

Tamarind Tikka said, "I don't want either three or four. I want our great-grandfather."

羅望子ティッカは言った。「三も四もいらぬ。うちの曽祖父がほしいのだ」

Again the men said, "Tamarind Tikka, don't cry. We will give you five quart measures of money."

また男たちは言った。「羅望子ティッカ、泣くな。銭を五クォート升やろう」

Tamarind Tikka said, "I don't want either five or six. Give me my great-grandfather."

羅望子ティッカは言った。「五も六もいらぬ。うちの曽祖父を返せ」

The men said, "Tamarind Tikka, don't cry. We will give you seven quart measures of money."

男たちは言った。「羅望子ティッカ、泣くな。銭を七クォート升やろう」

Then Tamarind Tikka said, "Ha. It is good. Give me them. What of that! Will our great-grandfather come to his senses again?"

すると羅望子ティッカは言った。「よし。それでよろしい。よこせ。それがどうした! うちの曽祖父はもう正気には戻るまいからな」

Taking the seven quart measures of money, and returning to his village, Tamarind Tikka spread a mat on the raised veranda of his house, and having put the seven quart measures of money on it, was counting it. The six uncles having come, said, "Whence, Tamarind Tikka, this money?"

銭を七クォート升取って村へ帰り、羅望子ティッカは家の高い縁側に莚を敷いて、その上に七クォート升の銭を置いて数えていた。六人の叔父が来て言った。「羅望子ティッカ、その金はどこからだ」

"O! Will people with cattle hides to sell become in want of money?" he said.

「おお! 売る牛の皮を持っている者が、金に困ることがあるものか」と羅望子ティッカは言った。

After that, the six uncles having cut the throats of all the cattle they had, and tied the skins into pingo loads, taking them to the villages asked, "Will you buy cattle hides?"

そのあと六人の叔父は持っている牛の喉をみな掻き切って、その皮を天秤棒の荷に縛り、村々へ運んで尋ねた。「牛の皮を買わないか」

The men said, "Go away. Go away. Who will give money for cattle hides?"

人々は言った。「出ていけ。出ていけ。誰が牛の皮に金を出すものか」

Then the uncles having come to their village, becoming angry with Tamarind Tikka, spoke together, "We must kill him." So they went to him and said, "Tamarind Tikka, let us go on a journey together." He asked, "Where?" The six uncles said, "A daughter of ours has been asked in marriage. On that account we must go to-day to eat betel at the house of the people who have asked for her. Tamarind Tikka said "Ha," and went with the uncles.

そこで叔父たちは自分の村へ帰り、羅望子ティッカに腹を立てて語り合った。「あいつを殺さねばならぬ」。そして羅望子ティッカのところへ行って言った。「羅望子ティッカ、いっしょに旅に出よう」。羅望子ティッカは「どこへ」と尋ねた。六人の叔父は言った。「われらの娘の一人に縁談が来た。それで今日、頼んできた家へ檳榔を食べに行かねばならぬのだ」。羅望子ティッカは「よし」と言って、叔父たちといっしょに行った。

Having gone very far, they came to a foot-bridge made of a tree trunk (edanda), and on seeing it the uncles spoke together, "Let us hang Tamarind Tikka under this, and go away." So they put him in a sack, and having hung it under the foot-bridge, went off.

たいそう遠くまで行くと、木の幹でこしらえた一本橋(エダンダ)に来た。それを見て叔父たちは語り合った。「羅望子ティッカをこの下に吊るして去ろう」。そこで羅望子ティッカを袋に入れ、一本橋の下に吊るして去っていった。

While he was under it, as a washerman bringing a bundle of clothes was going over the bridge, Tamarind Tikka said, "Appe! The lumbago is a leetle better since I have been hanging here." Then the washerman said, "Tamarind Tikka, I also have lumbago; hang me up a little."

その下にいると、着物の包みを持った洗濯人が橋を渡ってきたので、羅望子ティッカは言った。「アッペ! ここに吊るされていたら、腰の痛みがちいとよくなったぞ」。すると洗濯人は言った。「羅望子ティッカ、わしも腰が痛い。わしも少し吊るしてくれ」

Tamarind Tikka said, "If so, unfasten this sack." After the washerman unfastened it, Tamarind Tikka came out, and having put him in the sack, and again tied it in the same manner under the foot-bridge, took his bundle of clothes, came to the rice field with it, and spread the clothes out to dry.

羅望子ティッカは言った。「それならこの袋をほどけ」。洗濯人がほどくと、羅望子ティッカは出てきて、洗濯人を袋に入れ、また同じように一本橋の下に吊るし、その着物の包みを取って田へ行き、着物を干し広げた。

As the six uncles were returning, they cut the fastenings of the sack that hung under the bridge (thus letting it fall into the stream).

六人の叔父は帰る途中、橋の下に吊るされた袋の結び目を切った(そうして流れに落としたのである)。

While coming along afterwards to the village, they saw Tamarind Tikka in the rice field spreading clothes out, and asked, "Whence, Tamarind Tikka, these clothes?"

そのあと村へ帰ってくると、羅望子ティッカが田で着物を干しているのを見て尋ねた。「羅望子ティッカ、その着物はどこからだ」

Then he said, "O! Will people who have to be under foot-bridges become in want of clothes?"

すると羅望子ティッカは言った。「おお! 一本橋の下にいなければならぬ者が、着物に困ることがあるものか」

The six uncles said, "Hang us there also, Tamarind Tikka," and they brought six sacks and gave them to him. So he put the six uncles into the six sacks, and hung them under the foot-bridge, and afterwards cut the fastenings of the sacks. Then the six uncles were carried away down the river, and died in the sea.

六人の叔父は言った。「われらもそこへ吊るしてくれ、羅望子ティッカ」。そして袋を六つ持ってきて渡した。そこで羅望子ティッカは六人の叔父を六つの袋に入れて一本橋の下に吊るし、それから袋の結び目を切った。すると六人の叔父は川を流されていって、海で死んだ。

The six women (their wives) ran away; their six girls, saying, "Our fathers are going for clothes to wear. Let us go also," also ran away.

六人の女(その妻たち)は逃げ去った。その六人の娘も「父さんたちは着る着物を取りに行くのだ。わたしたちも行こう」と言って、やはり逃げ去った。

So the six uncles, and the six women, and the six girls all died. Tamarind Tikka, and his wife, and uncle, and aunt, and mother, these five remained.

こうして六人の叔父と、六人の女と、六人の娘はみな死んだ。羅望子ティッカと、その妻と、叔父と、叔母と、母、この五人が残った。