In a certain country there were three persons, Big He??iya, Middle He??iya, and Little He??iya. During the time while they were there, the three persons having gone to dig [for] gems, dug [for] gems until the money of the parties was finished. They did not meet with even one gem.

Because they did not, having come again to the village, certain acquaintances of those people were there. Taking (that is, borrowing) a little money from those parties, the whole three persons dug [for] gems again in partnership until the money was finished. They met with only one gem.

It was in the mind of Big He??iya to get it into a big box. It was in the mind of Middle He??iya to get it into a middle [sized] box. It was in the mind of Little He??iya to get it into a little box.

Well then, the three persons having quarrelled about it, Little He??iya made a little box, Middle He??iya made a box larger than that, Big He??iya made a box still larger than that.

Having made them, they placed the gem in the little box of Little He??iya, that box they placed inside Middle He??iya’s box, and having put it in they placed that box inside Big He??iya’s box. [Each one kept the key of his own box.]

Having put it away in that manner, those three still borrowing a little money from suitable persons of the neighbourhood, went again to dig [for] gems.

During the time while they were staying in that way, Little He??iya, having made two false keys for Big He??iya’s box and Middle He??iya’s box, and opened both the boxes, taking out his own box and opening that box with the key he had, took the gem and hid it. This one, having thrown away both the false keys, remained like a man who had not committed theft.

Not a long time after that, the men who lent the money came to ask for the money. Until the time when the money was finished they dug [for] gems; from it also they obtained nothing.

After that, these three persons spoke to the creditors, “Having sold the gem which we have, let us give the money to these people.”

Having said so, the whole three having come, Big He??iya, with the key that he had, opened the big box; Middle He??iya, with the key that he had, opened [his]; Little He??iya, with the key that he had, opened [his]. When they looked there was no gem.

After that, the three keys being in the hands of the three persons, having said, “Who opened [the boxes]?” the three persons struck each other.

[After] striking, they went near the King for a law suit. Having gone, the whole three persons said, “O Lord, Your Majesty, we three had a gem. Having put the gem into a little box, and put that into a still larger box, and put that into a still larger box, we three persons kept in our hands the three keys. Thereafter, when we three persons came together and looked [for it], it was not [there]. Because of it, Sir, somehow or other you must clear up this for us.”

After that, the King made much effort to sift the law suit. He being unable to explain the case, began to postpone it.

The King’s Queen having seen that the three He??iyas are coming every day in this manner to the court of justice, one day asked the King, “O Lord, Your Majesty, three He??iyas come every day to the court of justice. Why?” she asked.

The King said, “The three He??iyas having dug [for] gems, there was one gem. Little He??iya having made a box and put it in, locked it and kept the key near him. Middle He??iya having made a larger box than that, and placed that Little He??iya’s little box inside it, locked it and kept that key. Big He??iya having made a large box, taking both those boxes placed them inside that box, and having locked it, he kept that key. Leaving the keys in the hands of the three persons, the gem was missing. I have been unable to explain the case. Because of it I postpone it every day,” he said.

After that, the Queen said, “If you will give me the sovereignty I will clear up the case.”

Thereupon he said, “It is good. Until you have heard the action I will give [you] the sovereignty.”

Having said, “It is good,” the Queen went away and informed the Ministers, and told them to bring three bundles of cord and a whip. These people came bringing them.

After that, the Queen having placed Big He??iya on a support, told them to tie him. Having tied him, taking the whip and having said, “Will you give the gem? Will you give the gem?” she told them to flog him well. They flogged the He??iya until blood came. Even after that he said, “No, indeed (nÆma).”

Having also tied Middle He??iya in that manner, they flogged him; that He??iya said, “No, indeed.”

Having seized and tied up Little He??iya also, they flogged him in that very way. When they had been striking four or five blows, he said, “I will give the gem.” After that, she told him to bring the gem.

That Little He??iya having gone running, when he came [after] taking it from the dung-hill where he had buried and kept it, she told Big He??iya and Middle He??iya to divide [the value of] it. She gave nothing to Little He??iya.

Big He??iya and Middle He??iya divided [the value of] it between them.

North-central Province.