0029. The Goblin Town

From Twenty Jataka Tales by Noor Inayat (Khan) with illustrations by H. Willebeek Le Mair, online at: Hathi Trust.

Notes. The "goblins" referred to in this story are shape-shifting, man-eating rakshasas; you can find out more at Wikipedia.

Summary: The women who rescue the crew and passengers of a shipwreck are not what they seem to be!

Read the story below:

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THE GOBLIN TOWN

(H. Willebeek Le Mair)

The shipwreck

A great ship had been flung by the angry waves on the rocky shore of an island. Happily the crew and passengers, five hundred men in all, were no drowned. Their plight was wretched, however, but as they looked around, they were cheered by their beautiful surroundings.

"Our ship has sunk, alas!" they said; "but doubtless there are endless treasures in this island."

After a while, the sound of voices came to their ears, and they saw a crowd of women approaching. Soon the women came to the place where the men were gathered, and they spoke to them.

"Wherefrom do you come, O travelers?" they asked. "has your ship been broken on the rocks? The men of this island left long ago in a ship and have never returned. Come, then, with us to our homes, O travelers! We will care for you and make you happy."

Such were the alluring words of the women, but even as they spoke, they bound the men with magic chains and, not knowing they were drawn by these chains, the men followed the women to their homes. And so they lived some time in the city and ate the rice which the women prepared for them on golden dishes.

Voices in the night

But one night, when all the men were asleep, one of the five hundred awoke and heard strange voices.

"Whose are those voices?" he thought. "Are they not the voices of goblins?"

He silently arose from his bed and hid behind a large stone to watch. He was soon rewarded, for he saw that the women, changed into goblins, were walking through the town.

"It is a goblin-town!" the man exclaimed in horror. "I must tell my companions. We must flee from here."

No sooner were his eyes thus opened than he saw that he was bound with chains.

Escaping the Goblin Town

When morning came, he told his companions what he had seen. Some did not believe him, but the others asked, with trembling voices, "How can we escape?"

"We cannot," the man replied. "With magic chains we are bound."

As he said these words, there was a flash of light, and a white horse descended from the sky and landed before them. And they heard a gentle voice from the sea which said:

A flying horse with silver wings has answered to your call;
Mount on his back, your chains will break, and he will save you all.

And those who did not believe the story of their companion stayed with the women in the goblin-town, but the others flew away to their homes on the back of the silver horse, and they all lived happy ever after.