--- title: Makhdum Niamat Ullah and Makhdum Nuh. — Folk tales of Sind and Guzarat · full text with trees · page 3 description: Makhdum Niamat Ullah and Makhdum Nuh., «Folk tales of Sind and Guzarat» by C. A. Kincaid: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Early in the 18th century the greatest saint in Sind was Makhdum Niamat Ullah, the father of a still greater religious lumin --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76982/10/page/3/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Folk tales of Sind and Guzarat](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76982/) / Makhdum Niamat Ullah and Makhdum Nuh. # Makhdum Niamat Ullah and Makhdum Nuh. · page 3 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76982/10/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76982/10/page/2/) **3** The prince was thus free to act as he pleased.[225](../../225/ "tree and pragmatics") One evening he and his good for nothing companions went out a-hawking.[226](../../226/ "tree and pragmatics") Game was scarce and their hawks caught nothing.[227](../../227/ "tree and pragmatics") At last they reached a well near a Madu hamlet not far from the town.[228](../../228/ "tree and pragmatics") Vexed at their ill luck, they loosed their hawks at some tame pigeons that belonged to the villagers and happened to be circling near the well.[229](../../229/ "tree and pragmatics") All the pigeons but one took shelter in their dovecotes.[230](../../230/ "tree and pragmatics") One pigeon flew into the air followed by the prince’s hawk.[231](../../231/ "tree and pragmatics") For some time the two birds soared in the air, one unable to rise above the other.[232](../../232/ "tree and pragmatics") At last the hawk’s strong wings bore it above the pigeon and it made its swoop.[233](../../233/ "tree and pragmatics") The frightened pigeon dropped like a stone to the ground at the feet of a Madu maiden of 16, who was filling her jar at the well.[234](../../234/ "tree and pragmatics") The girl picked up the pigeon and stroking its feathers put it in her bosom.[235](../../235/ "tree and pragmatics") The hawk robbed of its prey, flew back to perch on the wrist of the prince’s huntsman.[236](../../236/ "tree and pragmatics") The prince rode up to the girl and with an evil smile on his lips, told her that she might keep the pigeon.[237](../../237/ "tree and pragmatics") He would not hunt it now that it had taken shelter in her bosom.[238](../../238/ "tree and pragmatics") The girl turned on him scornfully and said “A fine hunter you are to hawk a tame pigeon!”[239](../../239/ "tree and pragmatics") The prince pretended to be sorry for what he had done and then asked the girl to give him a drink of water from her jar.[240](../../240/ "tree and pragmatics") But the Madu maiden disliking his looks and tone, told him to get one of his servants to fetch water for him.[241](../../241/ "tree and pragmatics") But the prince pressed her, pleading that their horses were restive.[242](../../242/ "tree and pragmatics") Reluctantly the girl went close to him to give him a cup of water.[243](../../243/ "tree and pragmatics") Suddenly he caught her by the waist and swung her in front of him.[244](../../244/ "tree and pragmatics") A moment later he and his companions were riding as fast as they could to the prince’s palace.[245](../../245/ "tree and pragmatics") Some Madu men ran after them but in vain.[246](../../246/ "tree and pragmatics") The prince carried off the girl and the men with him said in jest “The prince’s hawk lost its prey, but the prince had better luck!”[247](../../247/ "tree and pragmatics") As the party neared the palace, they passed an aged Brahman, who, hearing the cries of the struggling girl, begged the prince to free her.[248](../../248/ "tree and pragmatics") But Dalu Rai only snarled at him to mind his own business.[249](../../249/ "tree and pragmatics") The Brahman, who was a mighty anchorite, flew into a passion and cursed him.[250](../../250/ "tree and pragmatics") “As a punishment for your cruelty,” he cried, “you will never live to be old.[251](../../251/ "tree and pragmatics") Your city will be destroyed and you will perish with it so suddenly, that you will not have time to give even a handful of grain in charity!”[252](../../252/ "tree and pragmatics") The prince paid little heed to the anchorite’s curse, but bore his prey inside the palace.[253](../../253/ "tree and pragmatics") There he found everyone excited as the princess had just borne her lord a son.[254](../../254/ "tree and pragmatics") But the prince pushed past his servants and took the Madu girl to a distant part of the palace and there tried to win her consent.[255](../../255/ "tree and pragmatics") But she scornfully rejected his promises of rich clothes and fine jewels.[256](../../256/ "tree and pragmatics") At last when he had lost all patience and was about to offer her violence, he heard a knock at his door.[257](../../257/ "tree and pragmatics") It was a messenger who brought the news that King Amrai was dead.[258](../../258/ "tree and pragmatics") At the same time he told the prince that Banbho, one of his associates wished to speak to him most urgently.[259](../../259/ "tree and pragmatics") The prince was unwilling to leave the Madu girl, but he could not refuse so grave a message, especially as Banbho was not only the wickedest but by far the wisest of his evil companions.[260](../../260/ "tree and pragmatics") The prince went out, locked the door behind him, and took Banbho into another room.[261](../../261/ "tree and pragmatics") The news Banbho brought was of the gravest.[262](../../262/ "tree and pragmatics") “The news I bring, my Prince,” he said slowly, “is as bad as it can be.[263](../../263/ "tree and pragmatics") Unless you act at once this palace of yours is certain to become your prison.[264](../../264/ "tree and pragmatics") The late king was angry with you, as you know, and before he died, he had engraved as his will on a brass plate that you were never to sit on the throne.[265](../../265/ "tree and pragmatics") In your stead the ministers were to put your son if you had one, and if not, your distant cousin.[266](../../266/ "tree and pragmatics") Now that a son has been born to the princess, think what a handle your enemies will have against you\![267](../../267/ "tree and pragmatics") They will put you in prison and make your infant son king of Brahmanabad.[268](../../268/ "tree and pragmatics") You must act at once!”[269](../../269/ "tree and pragmatics") Banbho’s plan was simple.[270](../../270/ "tree and pragmatics") It was to proclaim the prince as king in Brahmanabad and then to gallop with every available man to Depur where the ministers had assembled to carry out the late king’s wishes.[271](../../271/ "tree and pragmatics") Banbho taking some men with him, first rode through the streets of Brahmanabad, shouting “Victory to Dalu Rai Maharaj!”[272](../../272/ "tree and pragmatics") The crowd at once caught up the cry and were soon shouting “Victory to Dalu Rai Maharaj” through every lane and byway in the city.[273](../../273/ "tree and pragmatics") This done, Banbho returned to the prince’s palace and he and the prince and his companions and all the guards whom they could muster, set off together at headlong speed for Depur.[274](../../274/ "tree and pragmatics") While Banbho was thus rousing his master to action, the prime-minister and the commander-in-chief and the principal nobles of Brahmanabad were seated together in one of the council rooms of Depur.[275](../../275/ "tree and pragmatics") The prime-minister, respected above all for his age and wisdom and for his faithful service of the late king, put before his colleagues the brass plate of King Amrai and proposed that they should take instant steps to seize the person of Dalu Rai and put his newly born son on the throne.[276](../../276/ "tree and pragmatics") Several of the nobles objected strongly.[277](../../277/ "tree and pragmatics") For all their respect for the late king and their dislike of Dalu Rai, they disliked still more the coronation of a newly born infant with all the dangers of a long regency.[278](../../278/ "tree and pragmatics") While they were in high debate, the commander-in-chief heard a noise in the courtyard and guessing its cause, said with a smile and a shrug of his shoulders: “I am afraid we are too late, gentlemen.[279](../../279/ "tree and pragmatics") The prince has come in person to settle the succession.”[280](../../280/ "tree and pragmatics") Dalu Rai and Banbho followed by their troopers rushed up the stairs and Banbho knocking at the door, demanded entrance in the king’s name.[281](../../281/ "tree and pragmatics") Receiving no answer, he caught up a heavy pickaxe and with a single blow broke open the lock.[282](../../282/ "tree and pragmatics") The door flew open and the prince and his men rushed in.[283](../../283/ "tree and pragmatics") Many of the nobles at once joined him.[284](../../284/ "tree and pragmatics") But the chief minister and a few others remained seated.[285](../../285/ "tree and pragmatics") As the prince stepped forward, the prime-minister gave him the brass plate on which was engraved his father’s will.[286](../../286/ "tree and pragmatics") The prince read it and glowing with rage “from his topknot to his toenails,” rushed at the old man.[287](../../287/ "tree and pragmatics") Both sides drew their swords.[288](../../288/ "tree and pragmatics") A fight ensued, but it was soon over.[289](../../289/ "tree and pragmatics") The prime-minister and the commander-in-chief lay dead on the ground and the rest surrendered.[290](../../290/ "tree and pragmatics") Dalu Rai would at once have gone back to the Madu maiden; but Banbho who “had a crow’s wisdom” prevailed on him to spend the day and the following night on the late king’s funeral ceremonies.[291](../../291/ "tree and pragmatics") All day long and all that night Dalu Rai’s thoughts were far away with his unhappy captive.[292](../../292/ "tree and pragmatics") Next morning Banbho pressed him to hold a Darbar and win over the state officers and townspeople by concessions and gifts.[293](../../293/ "tree and pragmatics") But Dalu Rai could restrain himself no longer.[294](../../294/ "tree and pragmatics") “You spoiler of pleasure!” he cried angrily to Banbho, “I am not going to hold a Darbar\![295](../../295/ "tree and pragmatics") Tell my officers that I am too stricken with sorrow to hold one.”[296](../../296/ "tree and pragmatics") With these words King Dalu Rai left Banbho to manage as best he could, and rode off with all speed to the conquest of the Madu maiden.[297](../../297/ "tree and pragmatics") Unluckily for him, he had carelessly left behind him his dagger when summoned by Banbho.[298](../../298/ "tree and pragmatics") The Madu girl had picked it up and when the wicked king would have caught her in his arms she pointed the dagger at him and threatened to stab him if he came near her.[299](../../299/ "tree and pragmatics") As he stood uncertain what to do, he heard cries outside his palace “Maharaja\![300](../../300/ "tree and pragmatics") Maharaja!”[301](../../301/ "tree and pragmatics") Dalu Rai went to the verandah and looking down saw his courtyard full of frightened people.[302](../../302/ "tree and pragmatics") “Maharaja, save us!” they cried.[303](../../303/ "tree and pragmatics") “Brahmanabad will be destroyed.”[304](../../304/ "tree and pragmatics") Dalu Rai looked towards the horizon and saw a huge mass of sand like a tidal wave advancing on Brahmanabad.[305](../../305/ "tree and pragmatics") The sky was as black as pitch.[306](../../306/ "tree and pragmatics") The sun was hidden and the Indus had left its course and seemed to be fleeing before the sandstorm.[307](../../307/ "tree and pragmatics") As he gazed at the fearful scene, a voice cried: “To-day Brahmanabad shall perish because of its ruler’s wickedness!”[308](../../308/ "tree and pragmatics") The king remembered the anchorite’s curse and would have ridden away leaving his city and his people to their fate.[309](../../309/ "tree and pragmatics") But as he walked to the door a youth with drawn sword barred his way.[310](../../310/ "tree and pragmatics") “Who are you?” asked the king.[311](../../311/ "tree and pragmatics") “I am your death,” was the grim answer.[312](../../312/ "tree and pragmatics") The king had no other wish but to flee from the doomed town; but the youth would not let him pass.[313](../../313/ "tree and pragmatics") At last the king drew his sword and the two men fought.[314](../../314/ "tree and pragmatics") The youth was skilled in swordmanship but even so he was no match for Dalu Rai, who was a master of the art.[315](../../315/ "tree and pragmatics") In a few minutes the king drove his sword through the youth’s heart and bending over him dragged him into the Madu maiden’s room.[316](../../316/ "tree and pragmatics") As he did so, the girl drove her dagger into his back.[317](../../317/ "tree and pragmatics") “Why did you strike me?” asked the dying king.[318](../../318/ "tree and pragmatics") “Was the youth your kinsman?”[319](../../319/ "tree and pragmatics") “He was my betrothed,” said the girl with white lips and blazing eyes.[320](../../320/ "tree and pragmatics") The king fainted and life left him.[321](../../321/ "tree and pragmatics") The girl took some wood from the hearth where a fire was burning and lit the drapery in the room.[322](../../322/ "tree and pragmatics") In a few minutes it was blazing.[323](../../323/ "tree and pragmatics") The fire spread to the rest of the palace and it was soon a burning mass.[324](../../324/ "tree and pragmatics") At the same time the sand reached the walls of Brahmanabad.[325](../../325/ "tree and pragmatics") The burghers sought flight in all directions, but flight was useless.[326](../../326/ "tree and pragmatics") The sandwave caught them and stifled them, until at last there was not a living soul left in Brahmanabad.[327](../../327/ "tree and pragmatics") The curse of the anchorite had been fulfilled to the letter.[328](../../328/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76982/10/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76982/10/page/2/) **3** - ← previous: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76982/10/page/2/) - next →: [The Eighth Key.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76982/11/) - ↑ back to [Folk tales of Sind and Guzarat](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg76982/)