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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARCH 1, 1872.
goat, with Azru's arrow transfixing its body. The say, Father, you often stay away from me for astonished peasants at once hailed him as their several days at a time, and I get distressed lest leader, but he exacted an oath of secrecy from something should happen to you; do reassure me them; for he had come to deliver them from their by letting me know where your soul is, and let me tyrant, and would keep his incognito till such time feel certain that your life is safe.' This the prinas his plans for the destruction of the monster cose promised to do, and when her father returnshould be matured.
ed refused food for several days. The anxious "He then took leave of the hospitable people Shiribadat made enquiries, to which she replied by of Doyur, and went o Ghilgit. On realing the making the already named request. The tyrant place, which is scarcely four miles distant from was for a few moments thrown into mute astonishDoyur, he, amused himself hy prowling about in the ment, and finally refused compliance with her pregardens adjoining the royal residence. There he posterous demand. The love-smitten lady went on met one of the female companions of Shiribadat's starving herself, till at last her father, fearful for daughter--(goli in Hill Panjábi, shadróy in Ghilgiti) his daughter's life, told her not to fret herself about fetching water for the princess. This lady was him as his soul was (of snow?] in the snows, and remarkably handsome and of a sweet disposition. that he could only perish by fire. The princess Her companion rushed back and told the young communicated this information to her lover. Azru lady to look from over the ramparts of the castle at went back to Doyur and the villages around and a wonderfully handsome young man whom she had assembled his faithful peasants. Thern be asked to just met. The princess placed herself in a place take twigs of the fir-tree or chi, bind them together, from which she could observe any one approaching and light them then to proceed in a body with the fort. Her maid then returned and induced torches to the castle in a circle, keep close together, Azru to come with her to the Polo ground-the and surround it on every side. He then went and Shavaran--in front of the castle; the princess was dug out a very deep hole, us deep as a well, in the amitten with his beauty and at once fell in love place where Shiribadat's horse used to alight, and with him. She then sent word to the young prince covered it with green boughs. The next day he to come and see her. When he was admitted into received information that the torches (talen in her presence, be for a long time denied being any- Ghilgiti and lomo in Astori) were ready. He at once thing else than a common labourer. At last, be ordered the villagers gradually to draw Dear the fort confessed to being a fairy's child, and the over
in the manner which he had already indicated. joyed princess offered him her hand and heart. It " King Shiribadat was then sitting in his castle ; may be mentioned here that the tyrant Shiribadat near him his treacherons daughter, who was so yoon had a wonderful horse, which could cross a mile at to lose her parent. All at once he exclaimed, I every jump, and which its rider had accustomed to feel very close ; go out, dearest, and see what has jump both into, and out of, the fort, over its walls. happened. The girl went out and saw torches So regular were the leaps which that famous animal approaching from a distance; but fancying it to could take, that he invariably alighted at the distance be something connected with the plans of her of a mile from the fort, and at the same place. On husband, she went back and said it was nothing. the very day on which the princess had adınitted The torches came nearer and nearer, and the tyrant young Azru into the fort, King Shiribadat was out became exceedingly restless. Air, air,' he cried, hunting, of which he was desperately fond, and to I feel very, very ill; do nee, daughter, what is the which he used sometimes to devote a week or two matter.' The dutiful lady went and returned with at a time. We must now return to Azru, whom we the same answer as before. At last the torchhave left conversing with the princess. Azru bearers had fairly surrounded the fort, and remained silent when the lady confessed her love. hiribadat, with a presentiment of impending Urged to declare his sentiments, he said that he danger, rushed out of the room, saying that he felt would not marry her unless she bound herself to he was dying. He then ran to the stables and him by the most stringent oath; this she did, and mounted his favourite charger, and with one blow they became in the sight of God, as if they were of the whip made lim jump over the wall of the toedded man and wife. He then onnounced that castle. Faithful to its habit, the noble animal he bad come to destroy her father, and alighted at the same place, but alas I only to find asked her to kill him herself. This she itself engulfed in a treacherous pit. Before the refused; but as she had sworn to aid him in every king had time to extricate himself, the villagers had way she could, he finally induced her to promise run up with their torches. Throw them upon that she would ask her father rchere his soul ras. him,' cried Azru. With one accord all the blazing
Refuse food,' said Azru, for three or four days, wood was thrown upon Shiribadat, who miserably and your father, who is devotedly fond of you, will perished. Azru was then most enthusiastically ask for the reason of your strange conduct; then proclaimed king, celebrated his nuptials with the
- The story of the famous horse, the love-making between Azra and the Princess, the manner of their marriage, and other incidents connected with the expulsion of the tyrant, deserve attention.
