Indian Antiquary Vol 10

SR No.: 032502
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 440
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 269

August, 1881.)
FOLKLORE IN THE PANJAB.
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and by in came the Prince and his companions, and dwell in safety on condition of taking the hungry as hunters, crying "Well, jolly Knife- Knifegrinder as their king, giving him their grinder! where's the dinner ?” “Oh! ho ! richest and most beautiful maiden for his groaned he from under the quilt, "I had nearly queen. finished it when I got a fit of ague, and while I This they did with great joy. But the Knifelay shivering and shaking a dog ran in and grinder said" Sire, I must follow your fortunes." gobbled it up."
Then answered Prince Lionheart: "Not so! “What remains must do," said the Prince. See, here is a barley plant; care for it, and "Here! you Blacksmith, do you cook the food water it well. So long as it flourishes, know whilst we go and have another look at the that I am well, but if it droops, know that I city."
am in misfortune, and come and help me." But the very same thing happened to the Then the Knifegrinder king remained behind, valiant Blacksmith, that had happened to the while the Prince, the Blacksmith and the Knifegrinder. He too crept to bed, rolled him. Carpenter went on their travels. self up in a quilt, and when the hungry Prince | By and by they came to another desolate Lionheart arrived, lo! there was no dinner. city, and the Blacksmith said: "Oh, I remember
Then the Carpenter stayed behind to cook, now! a ghost' lives here, and will allow no one but he fared no better than the two others; 80 to come near. We had best be off." "Not so," when hungry Prince Lionheart returned there said Prince Lionheart,"First I must have my were three sick men, and no dinner. So Prince dinner, for I am hungry." Lionheart set to work to cook the food himself. So they bought what they wanted from the No sooner had it begun to give off & savoury shops, laying the proper price on the counters smell than the tiny mouse-warrior appeared. as there were no shopkeepers. Then the
"Upon my word! you are a pretty little Prince said: "Oh Blacksmith I do you cook food, fellow," said the Prince. “Give me my dinner!" for it is your turn whilst I and the Carpenter shrieked the mannikin.
look through the town." "Your dinner! Ha ha! a good idea. Why, No sooner had the Blacksmith prepared the it's my dinner, my good sir. However, to avoid food, and it began to smell deliciously, than the disputes let's fight it out," answered the Prince. ghost appeared, awful and forbidding. The
Then the mouse-warrior changed into a terri- valiant Blacksmith didn't stop to parley, but bly tall demon, but the Prince only laughed, flew into another room, and locked the door. saying "There is a medium in all things. When the Prince returned ever so hungry, Before you were too small, now you are too big: there was no dinner to be found, and no Blackas you seem to be able to alter your size without smith. much trouble, suppose you show some spirit, So the Prince said: "Oh Carpenter, do you and become.just my size, neither less nor more. cook the food," and the Carpenter fared no better, Then we can fight for our dinner." The demon, and flew into another room, and locked the thought there was reason in what the Prince door. said, so he grew smaller. Then they fought, “This is too bad !" said Prince Lionheart, but the Prince slew the demon with his sharp when he returned, and he began to cook the sword.
food himself. But when the ghost saw such a After that the Prince roused his friends, say very handsome young man, she would not aping "Oh valiant ones! I have slain your fever." pear as an old hag, but changed into a beautiful Then he wrote to all the people belonging to young woman. the town, and told them they might come back However the Prince jast looked at her feet,
Je, churl, sually a female ghost, which dovours men: invariably in the Panjab the ghost of a woman who had died during childbirth. They are usually supposed to inhabit deserted wells ( 95;4 wjør kle) and old pipal troo. But in nearly all places in the Panjab oertain wells and tanks are supposed to be thus haunted : 6.g. the well neer the corner of my compound here in Firospar and also the tank in the loonl District Court's compound, and besides
these the masonry tank by the Delni Gate of the Firospor city which is in daily nse. The story of the presence of a chupel seems usually to arise from some case of accidental drowning. The belief in churels is universal in Northern Indis, and will be treated later on under the head of "Customs and Beliefs." As regards their personal appearance they are supposed to be very ugly, black skinned, with protruding stomach and navel, and feet turned backwards; they can however assume the form of beautiful women.