🧚 The Story of Room Bacha and Baki.

Once upon a time, in the country of Room, there lived a King called Bacha, who, having married a young Princess from a neighbouring kingdom, lived with her for a short time very happily.1 But it happened that both the King and Queen were of a very argumentative turn of mind, and were constantly disputing with one another about all sorts of trifles, and as neither would ever give way to the other, it generally ended in their quarrelling.2 The King, who was a proud and head-strong man, was not at all pleased that his wife should venture to maintain her opinion against his, and gradually became very much incensed against her.3

One night, as the two were sitting together after dinner, a fox began to bark in the palace grounds outside.4

“Ah!” said the King, “do you hear that tiger roaring?”5

“My dear,” replied the Queen, “that is not a tiger, it is a fox.”6

“Certainly not!” said the King.7 “Do you think I don’t know a tiger when I hear him?8 There can be no question but that it is a tiger.”9

The Queen again contradicted him, and a heated argument ensued, in which neither convinced the other.10 At length, the King said that he could not stand this argument any longer, but would submit the question for decision to his council on the following day.11 If the council agreed that he was in the wrong, he should be sent adrift on a log of wood on the great river that flowed past the palace; but if the Queen should be found to be in the wrong, she should suffer this fate.12

So next day the King summoned a council, composed of all his wisest ministers and men of science.13 When they were all seated in the council chamber, he addressed them as follows:14

“Last night,” said he, “some beast began to bark outside the palace.15 I maintained that it was a tiger; the Queen affirmed that it was a fox.16 I desire to submit the question to you for decision.17 If you decide that it was a fox, I agree to be sent adrift upon a log of wood on the great river which flows past my palace; but if you think that the animal was a tiger, then the Queen is to suffer this penalty.”18

So saying, the King withdrew, leaving his ministers to decide the question.19 The counsellors, after weighing the matter for some time, summoned to their presence several peasants living in the neighbourhood, and these being all agreed that no tiger ever came within many miles of the palace, whereas foxes prowled there nightly, it was clear to the council that the King was in the wrong.20 Before any decision was given, however, the oldest counsellor rose and addressed the meeting as follows:21

“It appears to me,” said he, “that the King is undoubtedly in the wrong in this matter; but I wish to point out to you that if we announce our decision to that effect, the consequence will be that we shall be left without our King, and with only a Queen to reign over us.22 This, as you know, is a most undesirable state of affairs.23 I propose, therefore, that in spite of our real opinion in the matter we should make a public announcement to the effect that the King was right in his argument.”24

The others agreed to these words of wisdom, and the counsellors proceeded in a body to the King’s throne-room and informed him publicly that after due deliberation they had come to the conclusion that he was undoubtedly in the right.25 The King was greatly pleased at hearing his opinion confirmed, and at once gave orders that the Queen should be sent adrift on the river astride a log of wood.26 So the poor Queen was taken down to the river bank, and placing herself astride of a log of wood, she floated off down the great river.27

After floating along for several hours the current at length carried her to the opposite bank, many miles away from her own country, and as soon as she arrived in shallow water she waded ashore and looked about her.28 As far as she could see, the whole country appeared to be one great plain, covered with high grass, through which it was almost impossible for anyone to force their way; but after hunting about for a time, she discerned a small opening in the grass, which led her to a narrow winding path, along which she walked for some considerable distance.29 After going some way she came suddenly upon an open clearing in the grass, in the middle of which a very old man, with a white beard reaching almost to his waist, was seated before a small fire cooking himself some food.30

“Good-morning, sir,” said the Queen, when she saw him; “can you give me a morsel of food, for I am very hungry.”31

“Certainly, Madam,” replied the old man; “you are welcome to all I have,” and so saying, he handed over to her the whole of his provisions.32

When the Queen had made a good meal, the old man addressed her as follows:33

“You must know,” said he, “that I am a magician, living in this prairie, and you must carefully follow the directions which I shall now give you.34 You must first follow the path, which will lead you to the top of a small hill, and when you arrive there a son will be born to you.35 This boy is not an ordinary human child, but is the incarnation of a very holy Lama, with miraculous qualities, and he will from his birth be able to walk and talk.36 His name is Baki, and you must follow him wherever he leads.”37

The Queen thanked the old man for his advice, and following the narrow path, it soon led her to the top of a small hill; and here she was delivered of a child, who, as the magician had predicted, was of a miraculous nature, and was at once able to walk and talk.38 The boy without any hesitation went forward along the path, followed by his mother, and after travelling for some distance they emerged from the great grass jungle into an open cultivated country.39

Now it happened that on that day the three sons of the King of that country were out hunting together, and as they rode along looking out for game they suddenly came upon the Queen and her son.40 Having heard her story, they mounted her and the boy upon a horse and carried them off to the King’s palace.41 The King at once took them under his protection, and gave orders that the boy should be brought up with his own sons, and he and his mother lodged in apartments in the palace.42

Baki grew rapidly in beauty and stature, and soon became an expert in all sports and games.43 One day he and the King’s three sons were out hunting together, when by chance they suddenly came upon a beautiful snow-white doe, who jumped up before them and galloped off towards the mountains.44 The four young men at once started off in pursuit; but the horses upon which the King’s sons were riding gradually tired, and one after another they dropped out of the hunt, leaving Baki to continue alone.45 As the chase continued the poor doe began to show signs of exhaustion, and Baki, who was close upon her heels, was feeling confident that he would soon catch her.46 All at once the deer galloped straight up to what appeared to be a precipitous rock, and touching the rock with her muzzle, it flew asunder, revealing the entrance to a great cave within; and as she crossed the threshold of the cave her skin fell from her, and she appeared in the form of a beautiful young woman.47 Baki, who was of a very courageous disposition, did not hesitate for a moment, but, leaping from his horse, he followed the lady into the cave, and scarcely had he entered when the rock doors closed behind him with a loud crash.48 Following the form of the lady along a narrow passage, he emerged presently into a great lofty apartment, hollowed out in the centre of the rock, luxuriously furnished and brilliantly lighted, and with a row of great glass pillars running down the centre.49

The girl meanwhile had seated herself upon a couch in one corner of the room, and addressing the young man, she asked him who he was, and what he meant by thus thrusting himself upon the privacy of a lady.50 The young Prince apologised, and explained the circumstances of the case as best he could, whereupon the girl addressed him as follows:51