498 Collectanea.
they say, but when I borrowed money from you they sold me rubbish for it. So I in turn sold them mud-pellets covered \Yith gold." The Chief asked the people : " Did you really sell him rubbish for gold ? " They admitted the fact, and the Chief said : " Serve you right ! " So the orphan boy prospered and became in time a wealthy man.
[The exploits of this orphan boy supply the material for a number of similar tales. These stories seem to display Hindu mflluence, possibly through Manipur or from a Kachari source. For instance, the horse is unknown to the Nagas, and their name for it, kir, is believed to be a corruption of the Assamese-Hindi ghora, or it may be derived from the Naga kwir, " an elephant." Again, the Nagas, except where they have come in contact with the people of the plain, know nothing of gold, and do not use it for ornaments.]
{To be continued.')
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