A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

In Anna Liberata de Souza’s tale as collected by Mary Frere, two large eagles carry a milkwoman’s baby far beyond her homeland. They keep her in a house-sized nest of wood and iron, entered through seven iron doors, and name her Surya Bai. They bring royal clothing, jewels and toys and explicitly regard the girl as their daughter. Their affection follows an abduction; the story does not make them her biological parents or identify them with Garuda.

When the girl is twelve, the eagle husband and wife decide to obtain a diamond ring from the Red Sea. They expect the journey to last a year and leave provisions, a dog and a cat. During their absence a Rakshas tries unsuccessfully to enter the nest and leaves a poisonous broken nail in its door. The girl is struck by it just before the eagles return with their gift. Believing her dead, they put the ring on her finger and depart lamenting, never to return in the narrated account.

The ring subsequently helps establish that the foster-parents had come home, but they do not witness the girl’s recovery, later transformations or reunion with her human mother. Their nest, speech, provisioning and long jewel-seeking journey give these particular birds their tale role; neither an exact zoological species nor further supernatural powers are specified. The 1870 English edition is the selected witness, not a claim that this was the first telling.

01

Origins & earliest records

Told by Anna Liberata de Souza and collected in English by Mary Frere; introduction and notes by Bartle Frere.

02

Records & interpretation

Complete selected tale, attached footnote and related endnote read; title, introduction, collector apology and narrator autobiography with all referenced notes checked.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Old Deccan Days; or, Hindoo Fairy Legends Current in Southern India

    Anna Liberata de Souza, narrator; Mary Frere, collector; Bartle Frere, introduction and notes · 1870

    VI, Little Surya Bai, pp.113–128; footnote54 and related endnote338–339; Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co. The complete ending and collection mediation were read.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Primary records and illustrations

Complete VI113–128, footnote54/endnote338–339, title and full collection/narrator prefatory materials read.

Old Deccan Days; or, Hindoo Fairy Legends Current in Southern India

Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co.,1870. VI, Little Surya Bai, pp.113–128; footnote54 and related endnote338–339

Caches frere1870-6.txt, frere1870-notes6.txt and frere-deccan-1870.html; complete narrative ending preserved. Narrator/collector/editor roles distinct. No original-language collation or unverified first-attestation claim.

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References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Historical collected oral narrative in EnglishOld Deccan Days — VI, Little Surya Bai, pp.113–128; footnote54 and related endnote338–339Research access: 2026-10-06

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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