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NOVEMBER, 1880.]
FOLKLORE IN THE PANJAB.
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it was whenever she was sought in betrothal, till to lead to the bottom of the river. The girl's the farmer's wife acknowledged that the croco- father returned home very much astonished at diles were determined her daughter should fulfil what he had seen. the promise made to them.
Some months passed by: the mother wept By her advice, the farmer went down to the because she had no news of her daughter, and river to try and persuade the crocodiles to said "She is drowned, I know she is, and your release him from his promise. They would story about the stream dividing is not true.” hear no excuses, but threatened him with fear- Now when the King of the Crocodiles was ful punishments if he did not at once fulfil it. leaving with his bride he gave a brick to her He went home sorrowful but determined not to father, saying "If ever you want to see your yield.
daughter, go to the river, throw this brick as The very next day his daughter broke her far as you can into the current, and you will see leg. Then his wife cried: "These demons of what you will see." So the farmer said to his crocodiles will kill us all: better let us give wife, "I will go and find out for myself if my up our dear daughter."
daughter be alive or dead." So he went to the So the farmer went to the river bank, and river, whirled the stone round his head, and told the crocodiles they might send the bridal threw it far into the stream. Immediately the procession as soon as they chose. The very | water rolled back, and there was a dry path next day a number of female crocodiles arrived leading down to the bottom. It was bordered with mahindi,' etc. for the sanchit®; they brought by flowers and looked so inviting, that the beautiful clothes and behaved with the utmost farmer never hesitated, but hastened along it. politeness. But the beautiful bride wept, and By and by he came to a magnificent palace, wailed "Are you marrying me to the river ?" with golden roof, and shining diamond walls she said, "I shall be drowned."
with gardens and trees all round them, and a Soon after the bridal procession arrived, and sentinel was pacing up and down before the such a barát never was seen. In the middle sat door. the King of the Crocodiles covered with jewels. "Whose palace is this, sentry?” asked the Some crocodiles played instruments of music, farmer. "The King of the Crocodiles'," answered some danced, some carried on their heads the sentry. Then the farmer was overjoyed. baskets full of food, sweets, garments and "My daughter is surely here," thought he, "and jewels.
what a splendid house she has got: I only wish At the sight of these magnificent things the her bridegroom were half as handsome." Then bride's heart was comforted, but when they put he said to the sentry, "My daughter married the her into the dold" to carry her away, she King of the Crocodiles. Is she within ? I want wept bitterly. When they arrived at the river to see her." The sentry laughed; "A likely they took her out of the dold, and dragged her
story indeed! What ! my master married your into the river. She soreamed fearfully, but daughter! Ha! Ha! Ha!" behold, no sooner had they touched the
Now the queen was sitting inside by the open water, than the stream divided, and the whole window. She was as happy as the day was party disappeared down a path which seemed long, with her handsome husband, for you must
"U Jinn-Arabic, a spirit, a geniug-now in common wse by Hindus and Muhammadans in the Panjab.-R.C.T.
. Bardt-Hindi- marriage processiou, -used in the Panjab among the Banishs. Panj. expression is Janj.-R. O.T.
rus dipo Mahindi, -Lawsonia alba, used for staining the hands and feet; henna.-R.C.T.
o Sanchat, Panj. the ceremony of staining with henna.-There are two kinds Ajj, open cere
The custom is to send a body of friends from the bridegroom's house to the bride's with henna, eto.-R.C.T.
9,5 dold is a large palanquin, used for bridal processions; a smaller and better known kind is the 's dholt in common use. This is the Dhooly of the English. It should be remarked here that among all classes in the Panjab the distinction between the Musalman and Hindu religions is not broadly marked in matter of ceremony ! and, especially among the Jat Zamindårs, the marriage ceremonies now observed by Musalmans and Hindus are almost identical and mostly of Hindu origin. This is to be observed in all their tales introducing marriagos. Hindus also frequently have Musalman wives, who remain such all their lives without social degradation. The custom of Musulmán kings taking Hindu wives is of course his. torical; witness Akbar.-R. OT,
mony, F Gmajt, stolen or secret ceremony. Sanchit is sai Ind chit from Sanak. root chi, anasembly,
