This, however, was rather an exacting service to keep up,
as the appearances seem to have been rather frequent. A
compact was therefore made with the kalok, for he had
become so friendly now that it was possible to get him to
listen to reason, and the frequency of the feasts was
reduced until it became recognised as an annual or even
triennial occurrence. We must, I suppose, presume that
the kalok at the same time made it plain to his friends
that, whilst he agreed to the reduction in the number of
feasts, he must be duly honoured on the occasions and in
the practices set forth in the tradition.
THE TALAINGS 97

This story has a certain resemblance to one related in
the Mahavamsa to this effect. The yakkha Rattakkhl made
the people to have red eyes and then ate them. The
king alarmed fasted and said he would not rise till the
yakkha came. On the arrival of the latter, the king
remonstrated and the yakkha wanted a district reserved
for him to which he would confine operations. Then in
the course of negotiations he agreed to the acceptance of
one man as an offering and the king offered himself. This
the yakkha refused to accept and it was finally agreed to
make offerings at the entrance of every village. Thus
the pestilence was stayed.
