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208
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JULY, 1874.
48
youp"
A story-teller met him on the road,
The wisdom which from nature and from fancy Who asked him questions of his place,
comes And pearls he strong of eloquence.
Is not a light and blessing from on high. Then said he:-"Tell me of those sacks,
The wisdom of the world increases doubts and Speak truly; what are their contents P"
whims, He said :-"One bag with wheat is filled;
Religion's wisdom lifts above the spheres. No food for man, but sand, one sack contains." The cunning foxes of these latter days He asked :-" Why have you put this sand." Exalt themselves above their ancestors. The Arab said :-"To equipoise the wheat !" They stratagems pursue, their livers burn, The man advised :-"Pour out half of the wheat And study acts with cunning tricks; Into the other sack to better suit ;
Patience they have left off, and liberality, To ease both sacks, the camel too."
Which are the scope and elixir of life. The Arab said :-"O sage, how wise you are! True meditation must reveal the path, But how, with so much intellect and sense,
The way is that which leads to royalty, Can you be naked, helpless, and on foot P" . A king is he who made himself a king, Ho pitied the poor sage; invited him
Not he whom gems and treasures sovereign made.. To ride upon the camel. Then he asked :"O philosopher of speech so sweet, Do tell me also something of yourself:
CASTES OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. With all the understanding you possess
(Continued from page 274.) You surely king or vazir are-speak true."
Bandi.--A caste in Kanara (called also Gaude The answer was:-"I neither am, but plebeian. or Tattu': "Gaudes" are named by Jervis as Just see my state, my garments contemplate !" resembling Kolis, and being easily recognized by Again he asked: How many camels, cows, have the enormous masses of beads with which they
decorate their women): they live by prostituting He said :-"I neither these nor those possess." their women, and are indiscriminative in diet: At least tell me," quoth he, "what property you they are pretty numerous in Kanara, and are of have”
rather low rank. The sage replied :-"I have no family,
Nakará; Nayak; Nayko.-A section of the No property, no goods, no furniture,
Bhill race found in Rewa Kartha and the adjoining No food, no kitchen, no provisions."
parts of Gujarat : they are yet but imperfectly He further asked :-" Then, please, what is your civilized, and do not readily, intermingle with the ready cash ?
more settled population; they are included in the Because you are alone and fond of sense,
80-called Kala prajá, or the black race, with the O alchemist, the gold of this world is all yours, Dhurias, Chawadrias, &c.; they are described as Knowledge and sense new gems bestow on you; aborigines; as a miserable race, almost savages, Treasures you surely must concealed have,
and in habits as migratory: they work the carNo wiser man than you the world has seen."
nelian and mica mines, and prepare kdth in the He said "By God! I do not have, 0 Arab man, jungles. The term "Naik" is widely found among of daily food to keep me through a night;
the aboriginal races, and denotes leader, or chief. With naked feet and body I travel;
Bhilaid.- A term denoting the union of Rajput Who gives me bread, to him I visits pay;
with Bhill, and hence comparablo in character to I reap from all this intellect and sense
Thakor ; the chief of the Bhil tribes on the Only imaginations and headaches."
Vindhya mountains are almost all BhilAlhs, but The Arab said :-"Quickly depart from me, others boaring this name are in no way elevated Lest your ill-luck may fall upon my head;
above the common. The word occurs in the Unballowed is your wisdom; take it far from me. | Khandesh leper-return. Your utterance brings bad luck upon the world. Kotil : Khotil.-In Khandesh: a division of You this side go, the other I shall keep,
the Bhill tribes the term is generally applied And if you forward go, the rear I take;
to all the wild inhabitants of the Satpurs range, A sack of mine with wheat, and one with sand, who barter gum and wax for the produce of the To me than useless tricks much better was. plains; their numbers are not large. A fool I am, but that is bliss to me,
Pagt, Paggl.-In Gujarat a reputed branch Because my heart has food, and piety my, soul. of the Bhills: they are clever thief-trackers by footIf you from misery would separate,
prints, and also serve as village 'watchmien, Get rid of your philosophy.".
&c. ; Beveral are lepers in the Kheda silla. . It may be seem that this is a religious parable of deep meaning, but capable of a lucid interpretation.
