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MARCH 1, 1872.]
THE DARDS.
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about half a yard long and a span broad. Our 3. The Ghilgitis say "mey kákte tré pay; dashtea" friend Lal Muhammad, a saintly Akhunzada, but | --'my brother has three feet; explain now,' This a regular Munchausen, affirmed that he once met ineans a man's two legs and a stick. with a curious incident with regard to that animal.. 4. A Radish.-Astori mió dádo dimm dava-lok; He was out shooting one day, when he saw a stag, dúyn sarpa-lok, buja. My grandfather's body [is] which seemed to look intently in one direction. He in Hades, his beard [is in this world; [now] fired off his gun, which, however, did not divert the explain ! attention of the stag. At last he found out what This riddle is explained by a radish,' whose body it was that the stag was looking at. It turned out is in the earth and whose sprouts, compared to a to be a huge Hargin which had swallowed a large beard, are above the ground. Reinarkable above Markhor with the exception of his horns! There all, however, is that the unknown future state, rewas the porcupine, out of whose mouth protruded the ferred to in this riddle, should be called, whether head and horns of the Markhor !! My Ghilgiti, blessed or cursed, “ Dawalok" [the place of gods] on the contrary, said that the Hargin was a great by these nominal Muhamınadans. This world is snake like a big fish called Nang." Perhaps, Har- called " Sarpalok,"—the world of serpents.“ Sarpe" gin means a monster or dragon, and is applied to is also the name for man; lol is " place," but the different animals in the two countries of Ghilgit name by itself is not at present understood by the and Astor.
Shins.
5. A Hooka.-G. Méy Dadi shishéji agár, lúpenu. 7.-A Fight between Wolves and a Bear who
-My father's inother on her head fire is burning wanted to dig their Grave.
The top of the hooka is the dadi's or grand-mother's A curious animal something like a wolf is also
head. described. The species is called Ko. These animals
6. A Sword.- Tetang gotejo rúi nilai- Darkare like dogs; their snouts are of a red colour, and
ness froin the house, the female denou is coming are very long; they hunt in herds of ten or twenty,
out,' i.e. : "out of the dark sheath the beautiful, and track game which they bring down, one herd or
but destructive, steel issues." It is reinarkable that one Ko, as the case may be, relieving the other at
the female Yach should be called Rúi. certain stages. A Shikari once reported that he
7. Red Pepper.Lolo bakuro shé chá lá hásaw a large number of them asleep. They were all
bája! In the red sheep's pen white young ones ranged in a single long line. A bear approached,
are many-attend !' This refers to the redpepper and by the aid of a long branch measured the line.
husk in which there are many white seeds.. He then went to some distance, and measuring the ground, dug it out to the extent of the line in length.
B.-PROVERBS. He then went back to measure the breadth of the 8. Dotage.-To an old man people say,- Tú sleeping troop, when his branch touched one of the
jarro moto shúdung:—thou and old brains delivered. animals, which at once jumped up and roused the "You are old and have got rid of your senses. others. They all then pursued him and brought
Old women are very much dreaded and are accused him down. Some of them harassed him in front,
of creating mischief wherever they go. whilst one of them went behind him and sucked his
9. Duties to the aged-(Gh.†) Juwani keneru stomach clean out ab ano. This seems to be a
digasus, jarvelo bechumus.-In youth's time I gave, favourite method of these animals in destroying i in old age I demand. “When young I gave away, game. They do not attack men, but bring down snow that I am old you should support me." horses, sheep, and game.
10. A burnt child, &c.-El dam agáru dádo
dugúni shang thé !-Once in fire you have been II-BUJONI-RIDDLES, PROVERBS burnt, a second time take care ! AND FABLES.
11. Evil Communications, &c.-El khach láchek
bilo búdo donate she.--One bad sheep if there be, A.-RIDDLES.
to the whole flock is an insult.--"One rotten sheep 1. The Navel.-Tishkoreya ushkúrey halál."C_The spoils the whole flock." perpendicular mountain's sparrow's nest-the body's 12. Ek khacho manújo budote shaone bad sparrow's hole."
man is to all an insult.' 2. A Stick.--Mey sazik héyn, súreo peréyn, bás 13. Advice to keep good company. dárre pató búja._"Now. listen! My sister walks A mishto manújo-kachi béyto, to mishto siché. in the day-time and at night stands behind the Kacho maujo-kachi beyto, to kacho siche. door;" As Sas, sasik also means a stick, ordinarily When you (who are bad ?] sit near a good man called lounali in Astori, the riddle means: 'I have you learn good things; When you sit beside a bad a stick which assists me in walking by day and man you learn bad things. This proverb is not very which I put behind the door at night.'
intelligible, if literally translated. Words inviting attention, such as " listen," "explain," + The abbreviation "G." and "A." stand respectively for &o, &c., are generally put at the end of riddles,
"in the Guilgiti dialect" and " in the Astori dialect."
