11. A Vessel is Made Into a Lute

1In this august reign there was a tall tree on the west of the river Tsuki. The shadow of this tree, on its being struck by the morning sun, reached to the Island of Ahaji; and on its being struck by the evening sun, it crossed Mount Takayasu. So the tree was cut down and made into a vessel,—and a very swift-going vessel it was. At the time, this vessel was called by the name of Karanu. So with this vessel the water of the Island of Ahaji was drawn morning and evening, and presented as the great august water. The broken [pieces] of this vessel were used [as fuel] to burn salt, and the pieces of wood that remained over from the burning were made into a lute, whose sound re-echoed seven miles [off]. So [some one] sang, saying:

2“Karanu was burnt [as fuel] for salt; the remainder was made into a lute; oh! when struck, it sounds like the wet plants standing rocked on the reefs in the middle of the harbour,—the harbour of Yura.”

3This is a Changing Song which is a Quiet song.