The Legend Of The Devil Bird (Ulama) | And Other Stories

 The Legend Of The Devil Bird | A Tragic Story 

Devil bird

Once upon a time there lived a hunter in a remote village in Sri Lanka. The village was situated near a thick forest surrounded by the hills. 

The hunter was married and had one little son. He was a cruel and heartless man. His one and only dream was to kill some animal each day. There wasn't a single day when he did not add some meat to his meals. He had the habit of leaving home every morning on hunting.

One day, it so happened that the hunter had to return home empty handed. As he was sitting under the huge banyan tree in front of his hut, his little son came to him. The little one asked his father, " Father, you haven't taken me to the forest for some time. I like to see deer drinking water at the lake." 

The hunter stood up and told his wife that he was taking their son to the forest. He was one who never changed his decisions. So, the woman told the hunter, "Take good care of the child, please. Don't let him run about the forest." The woman also reminded the hunter to come back home before lunch. 

The hunter and his little son entered the forest. The hunter sat on a log near the lake and watched as his little son ran about the open near the lake. The child was very happy and was enjoying himself chasing butterflies on the blades of grass. 

The hunter was still upset as he could not kill any animal that day. Suddenly, he saw a deer drinking water some distance away where the little one was chasing butterflies. 

The hunter did not want to lose the opportunity in front of him. He took aim at the deer and shot an arrow. The arrow missed the target and ran through the little boy's chest. The child fell on the spot. The hunter was shocked and gazed at his little son who was dead bleeding from his chest.  He knelt down and wept hugging the lifeless body. 

For the first time in his life he could feel tears trickling down his cheeks. It was a terrible mistake. He knew that he had no excuse from his wife. She would never believe anything. She looked after the child as if he were her own eyes. She had told her husband many a times that she lived for the sake of her son. She had stood all the atrocities of her husband because of her child. 

The hunter was one who did not know what good and bad was. He often acted like a beast himself. Soon, his demonic feelings emerged beating the gloom over the tragic death of his own little son. He sat down and thought as to what he could do. 

Finally, the hunter decided to do something that any father would never have imagined. He decided to remove the flesh from the child's body. Then he buried the remains and took the flesh wrapped up in some broad leaves home as he usually did after each hunt. 

As soon as the wife saw the hunter returning home alone , she was alarmed and asked her husband, "Where's our son? Quickly tell me, did you leave him alone in the forest?" The hunter told his wife, "Woman! the boy is playing near the lake. He's safe there. I killed this pawn while he was playing. Prepare the meat for our lunch. I'll bring him back soon." The hunter disappeared into the forest in no time. His plan was to rush back home after some time and tell his wife that the boy was missing. 

Meanwhile the hunter's wife placed the pot of meat on the hearth and started string it. All this while she was wondering as to what the little son was doing in the forest alone. Suddenly, the woman noted a small piece of something in the curry. The woman quickly picked it up with the spoon and examined it thoroughly having deposited it on her palm. She then gently stroked it with her finger tips. The woman was shocked with the horrific finding. It was nothing but her own son's little finger's nail. 

The poor woman's fate was such that she had cooked her own son's meat. She stoop up in a frenzy; tore up her hair ; stuck the spoon on her head with one hand and disappeared into the forest with a loud cry of agony which even those who lived miles away could be heard. The poor woman could never be seen again. 

The legend has it that the deity of the forest changed the hunter's wife's into the devil bird (Ulama උලමා හෙවත් යක් කුරුල්ලා ) .  The bird is said to have a deep wailing like cry. The cry of the devil bird is considered as an ill omen by the Sri Lankan hoi polloi. Some people has a mythical belief that the bird falls dead after its shrill cry. 

By Sajendra Kumara