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MARCH 1, 1872.]
THE DARDS.
morates, is not devoid of interest either from an monster that ruled over it. However, this intention historical or a purely literary point of view - was confined to the two elder ones. The three
"Once upon a time there lived a race at Ghilgit strangers were brothers, and none of them had been whose origin is uncertain. Whether they sprung born at the same time. It was their intention to make from the soil or had iminigrated from a distant Azru Shamsher, the youngest, Raja of Ghilgit, and, region is doubtful ; so much is believed that they in order to achieve their purpose, they hit upon the were Gayupí, i. 6., spontaneous aborigines, un- following plan. On the already noticed prairie, known. Over them ruled a monarch who was & which is called Didingé, a sportive calf was gamboldescendant of the evil spirits, the Yach, who ling towards, and away from, ts mother. It was the terrorized over the world. His name was Shiri- pride of its owner, and its brilliant red colour could badat, and he resided at a castle in front of which be seen from a distance. Let us see who is the was a course for the performance of the manlı best marksman,' exclaimed the eldest, and saying game of Polo. His tastes were capricious, and in this, he shot an arrow in the direction of the calf, every one of his actions his fiendish origin could be but missed his aim. The second brother also tried discerned. The natives bore his rule with resigua- to hit it, but also failed. At last, Azru Shamsher, tion, for what could they effect against a monarch who took a deep interest in the sport, shot his arrow, at whose command even magic aids were placed ? which pierced the poor animal from side to side and However, the country was rendered fertile, and killed it. The brothers, whilst descending, congr&round the capital bloomed attractive gardens. tulated Azru on his sportsmanship, and on arriving
"The heavens, or rather the virtuous Peris, at at the spot where the calf was lying, proceeded to last grew tired of his tyranny, for he had crowned cut its throat and to take out from its body the his iniquities by indulging in a propensity for titbits, namely, the kidneys and the liver. cannibalism. This taste had been developed by an "They then roasted these delicacies, and invited accident. One day his cook brought him some Azru to partake of them first. He respectfully demutton broth, the like of which he had never clined, on the ground of his youth, but they urged tasted. After much inquiry as to the nature him to do so, 'in order,' they said, 'to reward you of the food on which the sheep had been for such an excellent shot. Scarcely had the meat brought up, it was eventually traced to an old touched the lips of Azru when the brothers got up, woman, its first owner. She stated that her child and vanishing into air, called out, Brother! you and the sheep were born on the same day, and los- have touched impure food, which Peris never should ing the former, she had consoled herself by suckling eat, and we have made use of your ignorance of this the latter. This was a revelation to the tyrant. law, because we want to make you a human being He had discovered the secret of the palatability of who shall rule over Ghilgit ; remain therefore at the broth, and was determined to have a never- Doyur.' Azru, in deep grief at the separation, cried, ending supply of it. So he ordered that his kit- Why remain at Doyur, unless it be to grind corn ? chen should be regularly provided with children of Then,' said the brothers, go to Ghilgit.' Why,' a tender age, whose flesh, when converted into was the reply, go to Ghilgit, unless it be to work broth, would remind him of the exquisite dish he in the gardens ? No, no,' was the last and conhad once so much relished. This cruel order was soling rejoinder ; 'you will assuredly become the carried out. The people of the country were dis- king of this courtry, and deliver it from its mermayed at such a state of things, and sought slight- ciless oppressor.' No more was heard of the dely to improve it by sacrificing, in the first place, all parting fairies, and Azru remained by himself, enorphans and children of neighbouring tribes! The deavouring to gather consolation from the great tyrant, however, was insatiable, and soon was his mission which had been bestowed on him. A crue ty felt by many families at Ghilgit, who were villager met him, and, struck by his appearance, compelled to give up their children to slaughter.
offered him shelter in his house. Next morning he "Relief came at last. At the top of the mountain went on the roof of his host's house, and calling Ko, which it takes a day to ascend, and which over- out to him to come up, pointed to the Ko mountain, looks the village of Doyur, below Ghilgit, on the on which, he said, he plainly discerned a wild goat. other side of the river, appeared three figures. They. The incredulous villager began to fear he had harlooked like men, but much more strong and hand- boured a maniac, if no a worse character ; but Azru some. In their arms they carried bows and arrows, shot off his arrow, and, accompanied by the and turning their eyes in the direction of Doyur, villager (who had assembled some friends for prothey perceived innumerable flocks of sheep and tection as he was afraid his young guest might cattle grazing on a prairie between that village and be an associate of robbers, and lead him into a trap), the foot of the mountain. The strangers were went in the direction of the mountain. There, to fairies, and had come [perhaps from Nagyr?] to be sure, at the very spot that was pointed out, this region with the view of ridding Ghilgit of the though many miles distant, was lying the wild
* Eating meat was the process of "incarnation.
