Indian Antiquary Vol 11

SR No.: 032503
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 396
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 311

OCTOBER, 1882.)
FOLKLORE FROM KASHMIR.
283
very brave, and would talk for hours of the heroic acts he would have done if Fate had only given him opportunity. Fate however was not kind, and so Fattu remained little Fattu the weaver, laughed at by all for his boasting.
Now ono day as Fatta was weaving cloth a musquito settled on his left hand just as he was throwing the shuttle with his right hand. By chance the shuttle sliding swiftly through the warp came into his hand just where the musquito had settled and squashed it. At this Fattu became desperately excited." That is what I always said," exclaimed he, "if I only had the chance I'd show my mettle. Now, how many people could have done that, I'd like to know ? Killing a mosquito is easy and throwing a shuttle is easy, but to do both at one time is a very different affair. It is easy to shoot a man, oh very easy : he is a good mark, something to see : besides bows and cross-bows are made for shooting, but to shoot a musquito with a shuttle is quite a different pair of boots."
The more he thought about it the more elated he became over his own skill and bravery, till he came to the conclusion that he would no longer be called Fattu. Now that he had shown his spirit he would be called in full Fatteh Khan: Fatteh Khân and nothing else.
When he announced this determination to the neighbours they laughed loudly, and though some did call him Fatteh Khân, it was with sach sniggling and giggling and sly jesting that he went home in a rage. But he found bis wife worse than his friends, for she, tired of her little husband's whims, sharply bid him hold his tongue and not make a fool of himself. On this, beside himself with pride and mortification, he seized her by the hair and beat her unmercifully, and then resolving to stay no longer where he was so slighted, he bid her make him some bread for his journey, and set about packing his bundle. "I will go into the world," said he to himself. "The man
who can shoot a musquito with a shuttle ought not to hide his light under a bushel." So off he set with his bundle, his shuttle, and a huge
loaf of bread tied up in a kerchief. | Now as he journeyed he came to a city where
a dreadful elephant came daily to make a meal of some of the inhabitants. Many mighty warriors had gone out against it, but none had returned. Hearing this the valiant little man said to himself—"Now is my chance : to a man who has killed a musquito with one blow of a shuttle, an elephant is mere child's play."
So he went to the king, and announced that he was ready single-handed to slay the elephant. The king naturally thought he was mad, but when he persisted in his offer, he told him he was free to try his luck.
So at the hour when the elephant usually appeared Fatteh Khan went out to meet it armed with his shuttle. “It is a weapon I understand," said he valiantly to those who urged him to take a spear or a bow, "and it has done work in its time, I assure you."
It was a fine sight to see Fattu strutting out to kill the elephant, whilst the townspeople gathered in crowds on the walls : but alas for the valiant little weaver! No sooner did he see the elephant charging down on him, than all his courage oozed away. He forgot he was Fatteh Khân, dropped his bundle, his bread and his shuttle, and bolted away as hard as Fattu's little legs could carry him.
Now it so happened that Fattu's wife had made the bread sweet and had put spices into it, as she wanted to hide the taste of the poison she had used with it: for she was a wicked revengeful woman, and wished to get rid of her tiresome whimsical little husband.
The elephant as he charged past smelt the spices, and catching up the brend with his trunk gobbled it down without stopping a moment. Poor Fattu scuttled away ever so fast, but the elephant soon overtook him. Then the little weaver in sheer desperation tried to double, and in doing so ran full tilt against the great beast. As luck would have it, just at that
Narayan become Shibbi and Shibbu : Fatteh Ram or Fatteh Khan = Fatta and Fattu. Muhamda and Muhamdu = Muhammad Bakhsh or Khan ; Waziri and Waziru = Wazir 'Ali or Wazir Khan : Nih&ld and Nihalu = Nihal Chand, and so on. Persons also rising in life from very small beginnings assume the more honorifio or full name as their prosperity increases in a way that often excites the amusement of their neighbours. No one
can be long in a Panjib District without being personally roquainted with such changes of name. The natives have & proverb about them :
Is daulat ke tin nim: Parsu, Parsl, Paras Rim. According to his wealth he has three names; Parsu, Parsa, Paras Råm.-R. C. T.