Indian Antiquary Vol 38

SR No.: 032530
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 362
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 35 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[DECEMBER, 1909.
One said : -" Râi Majhar is giving heaps of alms.” Another said: - "Morni's giving lots of alins." The Brâhman said: "A newly married girl has come bere, who is giving lavish alms. Take mo to her.” So they took him, and he said : -"As soon as we get near the palace of Rai Hasnl, point it out to me and go away." They showed him the palace and Rûp Chand told them to go away, while he bimself went into Râi Hasni's hall and said : -" The king will rule and the pigeon coo, and the sword will rattle : whosoever wants to ask about God's secrets, let him ask me.” Rai Hasnt heard him and told her maid to see who it was, as it sounded like Rúp Chand's voice. The girl saw it was Râp Chand and Rai Hasnt told her to ask him in at once, lest he share his brothers' fate. The Rânt took off her new dress and put on an old one, removed the bed, and pat down a mat. Râp Chand went up into the palace and placed his hand on his spiritual) daughter's head, saying: -"Your wedding was only the other day, what has become of your fine clothes?"
Rập Chand said :
She said: "Father, I am in mourning for your two dead brothers." “They were fools, if they had come to you, they would never have died."
Then they talked of indifferent subjects, and Rai Hasnt said: - Father, cook something for yourself and me to eat." Rap Chand said: "When I left home, I started thinking of you, my daughter, and that if I eat anything I must take it from the hands of Rai Mörn." RAI Hasni said: "Every Bribman who comes here talks of Rai Morni, Rai Mornt. Môrnt is silly and shy. She must have gone to graze the cattle or to grind corn."
Rûp Chand's wit was no match for Rai Hasni's, and he said to himself: "Mornt is the daughter of Raja of twenty-one tracta; if she were mad she would have a guard about her." Rai Hasui went on to say: "Father, if you don't believe what I say, I will show you Mornt."
He told her to do so, and so Rai Hasnt went and gave Ghattt, one of her maids who ground corn, an embroidered shawl which she had brought from her home, and put it on her. She was delighted and said :-"Yesterday you kindly gave me a bodice and now you have given me a shawl. Rai Hasnt said :-I have made thee Môrnt for a couple of bours.” The girl agreed to this and stuck her pot of flour under her arm. When she came, R&i Hasnt said: -" Rajpat women wear a veil of one and a quarter yard. long, so she too had better have one, too." When she adjusted the veil the pot of flour slipped, and vice versd, -90 she came. Rûp Chand also saw ber as she drew near and thought she bad either a bundle of clothes on her or a child in her lap. As she approached, he remarked that she had a gait like a donkey-grazer's, and rolling himself in his shawl, went to sleep.
She came up into the palace. Rai Hasnt said: "Mornt, Rap Chand has arrived tired out. Fan him until he wakes up." So she began to fan him, but what with the fan in one band and the pot of flour in the other, she was soon tired, and said: "Acoursed is the gold that tears one's ears.". Laying aside the fan, she perspired and her body began to discharge. Rap Chand saw how filthy she was and thought of his two brothers murdered on her account. Suddenly he sat up and seizing a bamboo staff gave her two or three blows with it. One blow fell on the pot of flour and she became as white as she had once been black, and with the flour coming out looked like a chur81.78 Her teeth were as long as one's finger and she was just hideous to see. Rûp. Chand began to retreat and exclaimed: - "O god, save nie from this fate. It is a pity that all on account of the Mornimy two treasn res7 perished.” When Rûp Chand uttered! Morni's dame the grindstone slave langbed, and then looking at her harte wept. Ráp. Chand observed that people who were besten generally wept and asked why she laughed. She replied: -
11 Wagan = wagna, to flow, disebarge. T The hideous ghost of a woman that has died in childbirth.
** Lit:, rubies.