The royal party had not long been gone, when news was brought to the city that the king and all his court, thinking only of enjoyment, and unsuspicious of danger, had been captured by Jayasinha, King of Andhra, who, sailing with a large fleet, had suddenly landed and taken them by surprise.

This news caused me the greatest consternation.  “Jayasinha,” I thought, “will certainly be captivated by the beauty of the princess; she will take poison rather than submit to his embraces; and I could not long survive her, for how could I live without her?”

While perplexed with this thought, and not knowing what to do, I heard of a brahman just arrived from Andhra, who was full of a strange event which had lately happened there.

“The King of Andhra,” he said, “has long been a bitter enemy of the King of Kalinga, and having taken him prisoner, was about to kill him, but he has fallen in love with the princess Kanakalekha, and wishing to marry her, not only spares her father’s life, but treats him with kindness for her sake.

“An unexpected obstacle to the accomplishment of his wishes has, however, arisen; the lady has suddenly become possessed by an evil spirit, whose rage is greatest whenever the king visits her.

“Anxious for her recovery, he has offered a large reward to any one who shall succeed in driving out the demon, but as yet no one has been able to effect her cure.”

This information filled me with hope, for I was well aware of the nature of the princess’s disease, and knew that no one but myself could cure it.  I was able, therefore, to form a plan for her deliverance, and quickly decided on the disguise to be adopted.  At the time when I killed the magician, I had taken off his scalp, with all the mass of tangled hair, and had hid it in a hollow tree.  I now went to the place, and taking out this scalp, fitted it on my own head; then rubbing over my whole body with dirt and charcoal dust, and dressing myself in old rags, I was completely disguised as an ascetic—­and when I went into the neighbouring villages I was regarded as a very holy devotee, and had many applications from persons wishing for advice or seeking to be cured of diseases.  This belief I encouraged to the utmost, and took care to keep up my credit by means of various tricks and contrivances.

In this manner I was soon able to collect a number of disciples, glad to live in idleness on the offerings continually brought to me, fully believing in my sanctity, entirely devoted to me, and ready to obey all my commands.

Having got together this troop of followers, I went to the side of a tank or small lake not far from the city of Andhra, built myself a hut, and made known that I intended to stay there for a time.

The news of my arrival was soon spread abroad by my disciples, who were loud in their praises of my miraculous powers, and the wonderful cures which I had effected; and great numbers of people came from the city to see me, either from curiosity or from the hope of receiving some benefit.