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MAY, 1885.]
FOLKLORE IN SOUTHERN INDIA.
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that had attained to great proficiency in the art the boy was very fair he married his daughter of magic, and had the power of assuming differ- to him the very next day. Feasts followed for ent forms. Having a great taste for Brahman's a month, during which time the bridegroom food, the tiger used now and then to frequent gave every satisfaction to his new relatives, temples and other places of public feeding in who supposed him to be human all the while. the shape of an old famished Brâhman in order He also did full justice to the Brahmaņic to share the food prepared for the Brahmans. dishes, and gorged everything that was placed The tiger also wanted, if possible, a Brâhman before him. wife to take to the woods, and there to make | After the first month was over the tigerher cook his meals after her fashion. One day bridegroom bethought him of his accustomed when he was partaking of his meals in Bråh. prey, and hankered after his abode in the woods. man shape at a satra', he heard the talk about A change of diet for a day or two is all the Brahmah girl who was always falling in very well, but to renounce his own proper food love with every beautiful Brâhman boy. Said for more than a month was hard. So one day he to himself, "Praised be the face that I saw he said to his father-in-law, "I must go back first this morning. I shall assume the shape of soon to my old parents, for they will be pining a Brahman boy, and appear as beautiful as at my absence. But why should we have to beautiful can be, and win the heart of the girl." bear the double expense of my coming all the
Next morning he accordingly became in way here again to take my wife to my village ? form a great Såstrin (proficient in the Ráma. So if you will kindly let me take the girl with yana) and took his seat near the ghat of the me I shall take her to her future home, and sacred river of the village. Scattering holy hand her over to her mother-in-law, and see ashes profusely over his body he opened the that she is well taken care of." The old Rúmdyana and began to read.
Brahman agreed to this, and replied, "My “The voice of the new SÅstrin is most en- dear son-in-law, you are her husband and she chanting. Let us go and hear him," said some is yours and we now send her with you, women among themselves, and sat down before though it is like sending her into the wilderness him to hear him expound the great book. The with her eyes tied up. But as we take you to girl for whom the tiger had assumed this shape be everything to her, we trust you to treat her came in due time to bathe at the river, and as 1 kindly." The mother of the bride shed tears at soon as she saw the new Sastrin fell in love the idea of having to send her away, but with him, and bothered her old mother to speak nevertheless the very next day was fixed for the to her father about him, so as not to lose her journey. The old woman spent the whole new lover. The old woman too was delighted day in preparing cakes and sweetmeats for her at the bridegroom whom fortune had thrown daughter, and when the time for the journey in her way, and ran home to her husband, who, arrived, she took care to place in her when he came and saw the Såstrin, raised bundles and on her head one or two margosa up his hands in praise of the great god leaves to keep off deinons. The relatives of Mahêśvara. The Sastrin was now invited the bride requested her husband to allow her to take his meals with them, and as he had to rest wherever she found shade, and to eat come with the express intention of marrying wherever she found water, and to this le the daughter he, of course, agreed.
agreed, and so they began their journey. A grand dinner followed in honour of the The boy tiger and his human wife pursued Sastrin, and his host began to question him as their journey for two or three ghatikás® in free to his parentage, &c., to which the ounning and pleasant conversation, when the girl happentiger replied that he was born in a village ed to see a fine pond, round which the birds were beyond the adjacent wood. The Brahman warbling their sweet notes. She requested had no time to wait for better enquiry, and as her husband to follow her to the water's
A place of public foeding. . Among high caste Hindås when girls leave one village and go to another the old woman of the house the mother or grandmother always places in her bundles
and on her head a few margosa leaves as a talisman against demons.
SA ghatikd is 24 minutes. The story being Hindu. the Hindu method of reckoning distance is used.
