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172
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
Pipal pattré jhari; Mahin sing jhari; Nain bahi hhári; Koil hút kin%; Bhagtu diwání; Bándi padni;
Rání nachni; Putr dholki bajant."
"One hen painted,
And the other was dyed, And the cock loved her, So the pipal shed its leaves, And the buffalo her horns, So the river became salt, And the cuckoo lost an eye, So Bhagtu went mad,
And the maid took to swearing,
So the Queen took to dancing
And the Prince took to drumming." "Capital!" cried the King, seizing a zither and thrumming away as he danced too. Then all four began to sing: "Ik chamkhat hui;
Chiri rangan charhi;
MUSALMAN BEGGARS.
Bombay being the principal port of embarkation for the Red Sea, there is annually a large concourse of Musalmân pilgrims going to Makka, from different provinces, and on their return they are fed, clothed and helped on their way. back to their homes. Besides these pilgrims who make their stay for a time in Bombay, there is already a large number of Musalmân faqirs in Bombay inhabiting mosques, verandas of godowns and Muhammadan houses, or who squat on vacant ground employing themselves during the day as labourers, and in the evening sallying forth as beggars, some with lanterns in their hands adorned with flower-garlands, while others go waving burning incense and return with a full scrip. These beggars frequent the houses of all. Hindus give these preference to their own beggars. To give charity to a faqir is in their estimation meritorious. They do not look at the corpse of a Hindu, but at a Musalmân's
BOMBAY BEGGARS AND CRIERS. BY K. RAGHUNATHJI. (Concluded from p. 146.)
15 Sargi sarangt, an instrument like a fiddle.R. C. T.
Chira bedan kars; Pipal pattré jhari; Mahin sing jhari; Nain bahi khárí; Koil hús kání; Bhagtu diwání; Bándi padni; Rání náchni; Putr dholki bajani; Rájá sargi bajans."
"One hen painted, And the other was dyed, And the cock loved her,
[JUNE, 1882.
So the pipal shed its leaves, And the buffalo her horns, So the river became salt, And the cuckoo lost an eye, So Bhagtu went mad, And the maid took to swearing, So the Queen took to dancing, And the Prince took to drumming, And the King took to thrumming." And that was the burial of poor hen-sparrow.
they will try to have a glance, as he becomes, they say, a pir after death, and that no evil spirit (pisácha,) enters his body; while others become devils, bhútas, and go to heaven or hell according to their deeds here on earth. But whatever the notions of the Hindus regarding Musalman beggars may be, many of the latter are reputed to be drunkards, smokers of ganja, chandol, smugglers of opium, and it is generally believed that not a few are addicted to pilfering."
Dandivâlâs strike two wooden bats together, and curse and abuse if one does not present them with a copper.
Then there are the Urim års, Schharimars, and Gajmårs who carry a knife or a club with spikes on it. With these they wound themselves if one does not pay them.
Dôrivals spread a line, and from the houses coming within the length of this line they demand money, and then go to other houses,
1 Bom. Quar. Rev. vol. IV, p. 264. Ibid, p. 265.
