Indian Antiquary Vol 19

SR No.: 032511
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 510
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 21 MB

Page 343

OCTOBER, 1890.)
FOLKLORE IN SALSETTE.
315
his wife, took her to the nág. When they had reached the kaulá-bush, they saw the nag waiting for them, but before the man could say anything to him he disappeared, and in a tank close by there appeared a largo kambal.5
The girl was so fascinated by its beauty that she asked her father if she could go and fetch it. The father, who suspected that the kambal was nothing but the ndg transformed, told her that she might go. The girl accordingly descended into the tank ; but the kambal went further out, and so, already in knee-deep water, she sang: -
Bává, donviáparsisi páni zháild kari ga, Kambal dari dirish zdi. "Father, knee-deep is the water,
The kambal goes further and further." To which the father replied, singing: -
Di đó, điá ka la khai: Bápis párítá zdi. “Daughter, mother ate kaulá:
Father is seeing you off." While the father was yet speaking, the girl went on following the kambal, which went farther and further away. The water was now up to her waist, so she turned round and sang: -
Bává, kambréparsin paní zháild karn gá,
Kambal durii ddrih sái. " Father, waist-deep is the water,
The kambal goes further and further." And her father replied, singing: -
Dhúế, đid kauá khái:
Bápris pávítá zái. “Daughter, mother ate kaulá :
Father is seeing you off.” Further and further went the kambal, and farther and further followed the girl, till she was up to her neck, when again she turned round and sang :
Bává, galiaparsim paní zháild kann ga,
Kambal đính đánh cái. " Father neck-deep is the water,
The kambal goes further and further." And her father again gave the same reply, singing: -
Dhie, dis kaula khái :
Bápús pávitá zái.. "Daughter, mother ate kaula :
Father is seeing you off."
Though the girl was up to her neck in the water, she was so fascinated by the beauty of the kambal that she kept following it, little thinking of the consequences. So she followed the kambal till she reached the middle of the tank, when lo!.& passage opened, and instead of the kambal she saw a handsome young man at the bottom of a ladder in a large palace. The young man invited her to come down and live with him, but as she shewed some unwil
A water-lily, highly prized by Hindus and also by the Salsette Christians. When pregnant woman is labouring. the kambal (which, even when dry, if pat in water, opens out like a fresh flower) facilitates delivery.