Indian Antiquary Vol 03

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 15

JANUARY, 1874.]
BENGALI FOLKLORE.
lege freely, and thoroughly belaboured the un- left. Afterwards a sheep, presented by the vil. fortunate executioner. The head was taken up lagers, was brought out and killed. The "toti," and placed next the first one, but the ceremony or village watohman, mixed its blood, some of of putting the foot in the mouth and the lamp the entrails, and the rice offered to the goddess on the head was not followed.
together. Of this mess he took three mouthfuls, Some dispute now arose as to whether the and putting the rest in a basket walked round young buffaloes should be tied up to the pillar the village, scattering this mixture as he went and then decapitated, or killed while they were along to the four quarters. This is done to prostanding on the ground. As the advocates of pitiate the evil spirits. either course asserted their opinion, you saw the The villagers believe thoroughly, in their brutes now being hauled in front of the pillar, goddess. Never since the village was established now being pulled back. At last the potail settled has cholera broken out in it. The potail told me the knotty point, and the poor brutes, it was that so powerful was this particular goddess decided, should be decapitated while standing. that if a cholera patient was brought to the A fresh hand grasped the axe, or rather large
door of her temple and had sufficient strength to knife, and, profiting by the lesson taught the make his offering he was sure to recover. The former executioner, took off the head with one village goddess' annual feast takes place always blow. A deep ah! from the crowd expressed on a Tuesday, and, if possible, in the month approval. It was now nearly twelve, and so we'Cheitra.
BENGALI FOLKLORE-LEGENDS FROM DINAJPUR. BY G. H. DAMANT, B.C.S., RANGPUR.
him, "Brother, how are you?" he replied, "At The two Bhútr.
the foot of this tree there are five pots filled with A king's son and a kotwal's son having gold mohurs over which I keep guard, so I am formed a friendship went to travel in foreign tolerably happy." The other inquired, "Can no countries together. On their way the kotwal's one take the mohurs from you ?" he said, "Yes ; son said to the king's son, "You always do kind if a man were to take the bark and loaves of actions for others, but I only injure them;" the this tree, and a maund of ghee made of dogs' other made no answer, and they continued their milk, and utter the mantra of Brahma, and offer journey for four or five days, till they came to ] & sacrifice the whole night at the foot of the a certain place where they saw a well, and the tree, he could take all my wealth; but no one king's son said, "Friend, I am very thirsty; knows of this, so my mohors are safe.” The tie a cloth round my waist and let me down king's son heard all this from inside the well, into the well and I will drink some water, and and was very much pleased at it, and in the you can pull me up again." The kotwal's son morning he called out to a man who was passagreed to do so, but when he had let him down ing along the the road, "Brother, come and help he let the cloth go and went away.
me out of this misfortune;" but the man said he The king's son was helpless, but he found was then going on the king's business, so the & plank on which he sat till night, and then two king's son inquired what it was, and he replied, Bhâts came ont of two mango-trees and began "My king has a daughter who is possessed by to talk; one of them called out, "Brother, how a Bhût, and nobody can drive him out, so the are you?" At that the other said, "Brother, I king has promised to give his daughter in am very well, for I have taken possession of a marriage to anybody who can expel him, and also king's daughter, and no one can drive me out to give him his kingdom." The king's son except by taking some of the bark and leaves replied, "You pull me out and I will drive away of this tree, and a maund of ghee made from the Bhut." The man then pulled him out and cats' milk, and offering it as a sacrifice at night took him to the king's palace, and he said to to the king's daughter." The other Bhút the king, "I will drive away the Bhût, but you replied, “No one knows of this, so you cannot must first give me a maund of ghee made of possibly be driven out." The other then asked' cata' milk." The king instantly had it brought,