________________
SEPTEMBER, 1885.]
A SUMMARY OF THE ALHA KHAND.
255
haughtiness of thy heart, but of our hearts, and God has sorely punished us for it," and then locked in each other's embrace they forgot all their past trials in present joys.
As the king was now very old and infirm it was arranged that the prince should henceforth occupy the throne, while minor estates and offices should be given to the other princes. All being in a good temper and most grateful to the prince for having delivered
them, this was most readily agroed to. Accordingly the prince sent word to the different kings, his fathers-in-law, advising them not to expect him, but to send his wives, as he was now ruling over his own father's kingdon. Congratulations poured in from all sides; the wives safely arrived ; and the prince, now a mighty king, and increasing in wisdom and power continually, passed the rest of his years in peace.
A SUMMARY OF THE ALHA KHAND.
BY G. A. GRIERSON, B.S.C. The following rapid résumé of the various by Mr. Waterfield in the Calcutta lieview sections of the Western recension of the Alhú (see ante, p. 209) is referred to whero it differs Khand, as published by Ghâsî Râm, will give materially from the Hindi version. an idea of the extent and variety of the Alhâ The following genealogical tablo will help cycle of folk-lore. The Kanauji version of the reader to understand the story betChapters I.-III. of this recension as translated ter :
Bås’deo, King of Mahuba.
Malina. d., m. Parmál, Divala, d., m. Til'ká, d., m. Bachh'raj Jägin, ., Mah'la, s., the Chandel, who
Jas'raj, who who lived at Jhijhâvat. lived at lived with reigned at Mahuba. lived at
Jag'nêri. Parmål at Jhijhâvat.
Mahuba. Malkha, s. Par'sa, 8. of Bachh'.
råj by a slave-girl. Uday Chand. Suraj'vati, d. Alha, s., m. Udal, s., m. Dhadha, s. of Jas'rij by
(1) Machh'lâvati, (1) Pâuhap, a slave-girl. Brahma, s., m., Béla. (2) Subhn. (2) Bhanwar Kali. CHAPTER I.
| to his wife's sister Divald or Dival De, The Birth and Lineage of Átha.
and the other, whom he named Bachh'raj, Par'mál the Chandel, the king of Chan- to another sister of his wife named Til'k å. dêrî, after conquering the whole of India, took The two princes were also called collectively (as an oath to fight no more. He married Mal'n' also their descendants) the Ban â phals. When or Malan Dê, the daughter of Bâs'déo, they had been duly instructed in every warlike king of Mahuba. One day as he went out to art, he gave them the fort of Jhijhâvat hunt he found two beautiful boys' playing as a residence. About the same time ho gave alone in the forest, and taking them home, to one of his wife's brothers, named Jagin,' brought them up as his own children. When the fort of Jag 'nêrî, and the other named they became old enough to be married he | Mah'la' he kept living with himself in married one of them, whom he named Jas'raj, Mahuba. In course of time Jas'raj had a son
1 Malh'ns in the Kanaujl version.
• The origin of Das'rdj, and Bachh'råj is quite different in the Kanarit version. They had two brothers, Rah'mal and Tôdar, and the four were called collectively BanAphars. They lived at Bagh'sar (Buxar) between Bandras rrd Ård (Arrah). They quarrelled with Mira TAlban (TA18 in the text) and started together for Kanauj to have their dispute settled by JÄichand, king of that city. On their way they stopped at Mahuba, and agreed to make Par'mal the arbiter. This was on the occasion of the fair mentioned in the next chapter. When Karang & attacked Par'ın Al the Bandphars and Mira TAlhan turned out to defend the latter, whose salt they
had eaten. Pleased at their conduct, Par'mal adopted the Ban&phare as his sons.
In the Kanauji version Dae'r&j.
In the Kanguji version Dévt, and in a lot of Hamir'. pur songs oommunicated to me by Mr. V. A. Smith, Déval Devi.
In the Kanauji version Birm'ha or Brahma. • In the Kanaujt version AlhA is said to have boen born in Das'råpur, or Das'nar'pur'va.
In the Kanauji version he is called Jag'nik or Jag'naik.
In the Kanauji version he is called Mahil. He rides on the maro Lilli, and his son's name is Abhai.
