Indian Antiquary Vol 10

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 56

40
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[FEBRUARY, 1881.
pierced and drove them off and fell. His army, putting off their arms in the town near which they had come, raised a lamentation and made a gift to yield an annual income for him.
Whoso through avarice, covetousness or envy
usurps it and lets that waste be uncultivated, shall incur the guilt of the five great sins.
To him in whose name this gift stands, to him shall be given five ploughs, with release from fighting.
FOLKLORE IN THE PANJAB. COLLECTED BY MRS. F. A. STEEL. WITH NOTES BY LIEUT. R. C. TEMPLE,
B.S.C., F.R.G.S., M.R.A.S., &c.
(Continued from p. 304, vol. IX.) No. 6.-FOLE TALE.
to this tree, and then when the pain comes I Sir Bumble.
will strike the trunk.” Once upon a time & soldier died, leaving a "All right," answered the soldier's son. So widow and one son. They were very poor, and he pulled out the thorn, and when the pain at last matters became so bad that they had came, the tigress gave the trunk such a blow nothing to eat.
that it split all to pieces. Then the grateful "Mother!" said the son, "give me two rupees, tigress said, “ As a reward take this box, only and I will seek my fortune in the world." don't open it till you have travelled nine miles."
"Oh ! ho !" said the mother, "and where am So the soldier's son set off to find his fortune I, who haven't a pice wherewith to buy flour,
with the box. Now when he had gone about to find two rupees ?"
five miles, he felt certain the box was heavier There's that old coat of my father's," an- than it was at first, and every step he took it swered the lad," look in the pocket; perchance seemed to grow heavier and heavier. Still he there might be something there." So she looked, tried to straggle on, but when he had walked and behold! there were three rupees down in eight miles and a quarter, his patience gave way, the very corner of the pocket. “More than I and he cried :-"I believe that tigress was a bargained for," said the lad, laughing." See, witch, and is playing off her tricks on me. I mother! here is one for you, and I'll keep the will stand it no longer. Lie there, you wretched other two for myself to pay my way until I find box; Heaven knows what you contain, and I my fortune."
don't care." So he set off to find his fortune. On the way! So saying he threw the box down violently. he saw a tigress, licking her paw and moaning It burst open, and out stepped a little old man. terribly. He was going to run away, but she He was only one span high, but his beard was called to him faintly, saying " Good lad, take a span and a quarter long. this thorn out for me, and I shall be for ever
He began to abuse the lad roundly for throwgrateful." But the lad answered, “Not I!
ing him down so hard. "Upon my word," why, if I begin to pull it out, and it pains you,
said the soldier's son," but you are weighty for you will kill me with one blow."
your size, old gentleman. And what may your "No !" said the tigress, "I will turn my face
name be?” 10 Or" coming back and putting off their arms in the Muhammadan. It possesses considerable literary merita town."
remarkable from their absence in most Panjabt tales. The
treatment is humorous and in places poetical, and the tale i litlu Midi Dhunga. Bhungd or blandt is a
88 & whole gives the idea of its having been at some period curious word used in the Panjab for any buzzing insect,
committed to writing. The description of "Sir Bumble" and here for the big beetle or bumble bee. Bhunga Panj. as being a mannikin "one span high with a beard one span and Hindi - Prak, bhingo, though used for a bee, is
and a quarter long" occurs in The Arabian Nights and in apparently a small insect, and according to Fallon's
some German tales. It is possible the Muhammadans Dictionary is the personification of weakness, the very
brought the tale in with them during some of their irrupopposite to " Sir Bumble." The ordinary word for the big tions.-F. A. S., R.C.T. beetle or bumble bee is bhaunra panj. and Hindi, also use sherni-a tigress. Though no description of bhaurd or bhanwar. The root is apparently Sanskrit WE bhram to wander, whirl, whence bhramara, a bee, and
the remarkable tigress of the story is given, she is usually bhramart, a butterfly Hind. bharibirt and bhariomirt, etc.
described as a bhdt - Sansk. bhata, an evil spirit, This root is connected with the Lat. fremo, etc. bhinndnd, demon, any creature possessing demoniacal powers, atten. bhimbinnana, bhinaknd, to buzz e a bee or beetle. dants of Siva.-R.O.T. Bhimbinndná is the word used in this story.-R.C.T. The story is fairly well known in the Panjab and is
hath = 18 inchos.-R.C.T.