HERE lived in a certain place a Brahman, whose name was Svabhavakripana, which means "a born miser."

He had collected a quantity of rice by begging, and after having dined off it, he filled a pot with what was left over.

He hung the pot on a peg on the wall, placed his couch beneath, and looking intently at it all the night, he thought, "Ah, that pot is indeed brimful of rice.

Now, if there should be a famine, I should certainly make a hundred rupees by it.

With this I shall buy a couple of goats.

They will have young ones every six months, and thus I shall have a whole herd of goats.

Then, with the goats, I shall buy cows.

As soon as they have calved, I shall sell the calves.

Then, with the calves, I shall buy buffaloes; with the buffaloes, mares.

When the mares have foaled, I shall have plenty of horses; and when I sell them, plenty of gold.

With that gold I shall get a house with four wings.

And then a Brahman will come to my house, and will give me his beautiful daughter, with a large dowry.

She will have a son, and I shall call him Somasarman.