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14
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JANUARY 5, 1872.
Ramazan, but seems to be generally on the sixth of February. It is called the " Shino nao," " the new day of the Shin people." The Ghilgitis call the day “ Shino bazóno," the spring of the Shin people. The year, it will be remembered, is divided into bazono, spring walo, summer ; shero, autumn ; yono, winter. The snow is now becoming a little softer, and out-ofdoor life is more possible. The festivities age kept up for twelve days. Visits take place, and man and wife are invited out to dinner during that period. Forniendly when the Shins had a Raja or Nawáb of their own it used to be the custom for women to dance during those twelve days. Now the advent of the sipahis, and the ridiculous pseudo-morality of the Kashmir rule have introduced a kind of pardah, and thechaste
Shin women do not like to expose themselves to strangers. Then there is the Nauroz which is celebrated for three, and sometimes for six days,
There are five great holidays in the year : The 'Id of Ramazan. The Shin-o-Nao. The Naorôz. Kurbani 'Id. The Kúy Náo, Astori. Dúmniká
Ghilgiti. On the last-named holiday the game of Polo is played, good clothes are put on, and men and women amuse themselves in public meetings.
The Shin people are very patriotio. Since the Maharaja's rule, many of their old customs have died out, and the separation of the sexes is becoming greater.
A TÁMBA PATRA OR ANCIENT COPPER-PLATE GRANT FROM KÁTHIÁWÁD
TRANSLATED DY RAMKRISHNA GOPAL BHANDARKAR M.A. WELFARE ! From Valabhf. From Bha- | ficed his own interests as if they were as worthtáraka the great Maheshvarat who obtained less as straw, by his readiness to extend protecgreatness by a hundred wounds received in tion from danger to those who sought an the midst of a circle of friends of match- asylum with him, -and, who delighted the less might, who, with main force, had sub- hearts of learned men, friends and favourites, by jugated their enemies, who won the attachment giving them more wealth than was asked, and [of kings] by his gifts, respectful treatment who was the very incarnate [moving on legs] and equable conduct—the results of that great- delight of the whole extent of the world. ness-who, by the power of the kings so at- His son was Shri Dharasena the great Mátached to him, obtained sovereignty, and whose heshvara whose stains of sins were wholly royal race is unbroken,--sprang Shrli Guha- washed away by the water of the Gangá* in the sena the great Maheshvara,—who had all his shape of the rays from the nails of his father's sins washed away by bowing at the lotus-like feet--whose wealth was fed on by hundreds of feet of his mother and father-who, sword in hand, thousands of favourite3,-who was resorted to from his childhood manifested great prowess, as it were, out of love for his beauty, by many by breaking the ranks of the maddened ele- acquired virtues,--who astonished all archers by phants of his enemy,-the rays of the nails of his innate power and acquired skill, who conwhose feet were mixed with the light of tinued the charitable grants made by former the crown jewels of the enemies laid prostrate kings, who averted the evils destructive to his [at his feet] by his valour, who delighted subjects,who showed himself to be the comthe hearts of his subjects by excellently pro- mon abode of Shrit and Sarasvati, t-whose tecting them, thoroughly, according to the me- exploits placed him in the enjoyment of the thod prescribed in the Smritis, and thus wealth and power of his united enemies, and who, rendered his title of Rája literally true, who by his exploits, obtained unsullied royal digniin beauty, lustre, firmness, depth, genius and ty. His son was Shiladitya, the great Máwealth, excelled Káma, the moon, the King heshvara, who meditated on his father's feet, - of mountains, the ocean, the perceptor of the who filled the circle of all the quarters by extraGods,** and the Lord of wealth,tt—who sacri- ordinary virtues wk.ch were united in him, and
• Is celebrated in Autumn when the the fruit and corn + Brihaspati.. tt Kuber.. Ave become ripe.
• The water of the Gangk is white, according to Hindu Devotee of Maheshvars or Shivs. The Valabhi kings poeta, and rays of light are also white; hence the resemblance. probably belonged to the Maheshvars Sect.
The Goddess of wealth. 1 This is an honorific, prefixed to the names of kings.
Goddess of learning. These two are supposed always Law-books. The God of Love (Himalaya. Ito live apart.
