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MARCH, 1880.]
FOLKLORE SCRAPS FROM BIRBHUM, BENGAL.
79
then called Maha da yapatnam, but now Kudangalur, and applied themselves with their usual sagacity, economy and success to trade, and thence early obtained the respect and protection of the native princes. Some considerable time afterwards' they procured a most valuable grant from the ruling sovereign, and had it engraved in old Tamil upon copper plates. These plates are still in existence at Cochin. They have been already given in facsimile with a translation. The following is the transliteration of the first plate :Svasti sri-kôgôn amai kõndan. kô sri Parkaraņ. Iravivaņmar tiruvadi pala nûrîyirattándum séngôl nadatti yA!A ninra yându irandâm kņdaikk'ědir muppettârâm ându Moyirikottu irunda 'ruliya na! pirasAdiśán 'ruliya piraså damåvadu : Issuppu Irappåņukku apjuvannamum vědiyalum PÂyanattalum pâgudamum anjuvaņpapperum pagalviLakkum påvâdaiyum andolagamum kudaiyum..
[koduttom].
The States formed on the dismemberment of the Pêrumal's empire were farther weakened by smaller apportionments amongst Chiefs or Kaimals who were under a species of feudal buburdination to the RÂjas, and, subject to their control, exercised a tyrannical rule over the tenants and people included within their provinces. These subordinate Chiefs were styled Rajas again by their subjects, and were often at feud with one another. The army was raised by conscription from the Nayars, and the inferior castes were pressed into the service as camp followers. When we consider that a loose patriarchal sort of government was all that pertained to the sovereign in those times, who levied no land taxes, and established no strong tribunals, it is not surprising that some of the chiefs latterly claimed sovereign rank for them. selves, or were adjudged the same by foreigners, who found the lines of distinction between the honoured subject or tributary chief and the independent ruler too narrow to be perceived."
FOLKLORE SCRAPS FROM BIRBHUM, BENGAL.
BY G. D. BYSACK. Sajol, in the district of Birbhum, is situated the Munis still perform their devotions below one and a half kos to the north-east of the railway the earth. There is a tank in the middle of station of Bolpur. Its correct name is Srin. the village called Endo-the hermitage of galpur. Tradition says that this place was Andhaka. A tank was dug to the east of the the hermitage of the great ascetic Rishya Sringa. village in the year 1231 Beng. San, and The country is undulating, and the village called Morepukhar. When digging it pieces Sujol is built on an elevated site. One of its of broken boats, rotten tobacco, and human wards is called Dêripârâ, and to the north-east bones turned up. It is said that formerly the of Devipârâ is a narrow mound of earth where Ajai river flowed through this place. Daśathe great Rishi used to perform his devotions. ratha, the lord of Ajodhya, when celebrating Near the mound was his Kunda or sacrificial the Putresti yajna (sacrifice to obtain a son) fount. That Kunda is now called Kunri land. took Sringa to Ajodhya by the river. Rishya
This place is regarded as sacred, and dedi- Sringa's father Maharishi Vibhậndaka was cated to a lion-mounted goddess Nava Durgå. very old, and was by no means inclined to It is said that the father of Rishya Sringa, the let his son go to so distant a place, but the great sage, Vibhåndaka, established the stone mother was prevailed upon to assent to the image here. Cinders, rice and bilva leaves are Raja's earnest commands as there was no other still to be found in digging. A story prevails
alternative left for her. After the departure of that a few years ago a European sunk an iron her son, she lecame very anxious for him. bar in the earth to know whether the place bad The river which had helped Dasaratha to take a coal mine, when the bar was taken out of the her son away excited her ire. On the return ground he found it to be hot. This served to of her son she stopped its course by a curse. confirm the genoral belief or superstition that From that time the river began to silt up, and
In the eighth century A. D., see vol. III. p. 884.-ED.
I have added this from Dr. Burnell's 8. Indian Palaography (2nd ed.) p. 140, in place of an unsatisfactory translation given in the Report. "For his translation see
ante, vol. III., PP. 833ff.- ED.
From the Administration Report of Cochin for 1875-76, communicated by H. H. Bams Varm4. First Prince of Travankore.-E.
