it is not proper to be alarmed by a mere sound, when the cause of that sound is unknown. a poor woman obtaineth consequence for discovering the cause of a sound.

between the mountains sree-parvata there is a city called brahma-puree, the inhabitants of which used to believe that a certain giant, whom they called ghautta-karna, infested one of the adjacent hills.

the fact was thus: a thief, as he was running away with a bell he had stolen, was overcome and devoured by a tiger; and the bell falling from his hand having been picked up by some monkeys, every now and then they used to ring it. now the people of the town finding that a man had been killed there, and at the same time hearing the bell, used to declare that the giant ghautta-karna being enraged, was devouring a man, and ringing his bell; so that the city was abandoned by all the principal inhabitants. at length, however, a certain poor woman having considered the subject, discovered that the bell was rung by the monkeys.

she accordingly went to the rajah, and said:

"if, divine sir, i may expect a very great reward, i will engage to silence this ghautta-karna."

the rajah was exceedingly well pleased, and gave her some money. so having displayed her consequence to the priesthood of the country, to the leaders of the army, and to all the rest of the people, she provided such fruits as she conceived the monkeys were fond of, and went into the wood; where strewing them about, they presently quitted the bell, and attached themselves to the fruit. the poor woman, in the meantime, took away the bell, and repaired to the city, where she became an object of adoration to its inhabitants. wherefore, i say: "it is not proper to be alarmed by a mere sound, when the cause of the sound is unknown."